Meet Isaac W. K. Thweatt from Virginia, who is pursuing his online Ed.D. in Diversity and Equity in Education (EPOL) and says his coursework "empowers me as an institutional advancement leader to coach and guide fellow fundraisers, Board members, and volunteers on how to best connect to our institution and to one another."
What have you enjoyed most about your online degree program experience at Illinois, so far?
"The flexibility of remote engagement with the structure of in-person activities. Each course is designed to connect students, deepen understanding through scholarly reading and writing, and (in my program) promote self-identity development as a social scientist and educational leader."
What were you doing prior to starting your online degree program?
"I served as a higher education fundraising professional."
Describe your online program experience.
"Success in the Diversity and Equity in Education doctorate program stems from a razor-sharp capacity for organization, personal drive to produce, excellent writing, which manifests from excellent research, and awareness that completion is impossible if you do it alone. My advisor Dr. Wood and other students (particularly those in my time zone) are always willing to connect and float new ideas."
What are you doing now, and how has your online degree experience helped you?
"I am an executive-level fundraising and relationship management professional for a major cultural institution in New York City that attracts more than one million visitors annually. The University of Illinois' course work empowers me as an institutional advancement leader to coach and guide fellow fundraisers, Board members, and volunteers on how to best connect to our institution and one another."
