Muskingum News

One of the most important high school achievements that Dr. Vicki Wilson encourages her students to put on their resumes is being an Eagle Scout.

“To become an Eagle Scout, you have to do a lot of things — you have to go camping, learn emergency preparedness and first aid, and interact with the environment,” she said to a crowd of excited Muskingum University graduate degree recipients and their families.

“But it’s really about the badges.”

Dr. Wilson, a former Chair of the Muskingum University Education Department and an accomplished leader in the field of teacher education, addressed graduate degree recipients as the principal speaker at Muskingum’s 26th graduate commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

During the ceremony in Brown Chapel, Muskingum University presented Education Specialist, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Arts in Education and Master of Information Strategy, Systems & Technology degrees to 98 students.

“You have just earned a big badge — a master’s degree,” she said. “You’ve learned all the things you had to learn and completed all the activities you had to complete in a comprehensive program carefully designed by a group of accomplished faculty and administrators. And this makes a difference.”

But it’s not just the knowledge and skills that are signified by a badge, Dr. Wilson said. It’s also the ambition; commitment; dedication; and the blood, sweat and tears spent over the years.

“My message to you today, graduates, is to keep earning badges,” she said. “You’ve earned a big one today, but please don’t stop there.”

Dr. Wilson helped launch Muskingum’s Master of Arts in Teaching degree program and multiple new licensure areas, including those in educational leadership. Nationally, she helped create and implement the Welcoming Schools Initiative of the International Alliance for Invitational Education (IAIE).

A member of the Muskingum University faculty from 1996-1999 and from 2002-2007, Dr. Wilson served as Professor of Education, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Teacher Education, Education Department Chair, and coordinator for Muskingum’s teacher program accreditation through NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Recognizing her distinguished career and lifetime of achievement, the University awarded Dr. Wilson an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Dayton, a Master of Business Administration degree in Business/Government Relations from American University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

For more information about graduate programs at Muskingum University, visit muskingum.edu/GCS.