For Christina Trombley, Ph.D., associate dean of The Chicago School’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies, it is crucial to embed The Chicago Schools mission into every student experience, both inside and outside the classroom.
“What makes The Chicago School unique is our long-lasting commitment to the practical side of education,” Dr. Trombley says. “It’s not just about learning the content in and of itself but more so about how you’re going to put that learning into action and use it to make your community stronger.”
Dr. Trombley comes to The Chicago School with decades of experience across higher education strategy and leadership, which helps her direct academic programs toward continued innovation and growth through data-driven decision-making.
In particular, Dr. Trombley has long been passionate about the impact of online learning opportunities. “With online programming, we can meet the needs of today’s busy professionals,” she says. “You may not have the ability to travel to a campus for a full-time, in-person program while still supporting your family, but so many more doors open to you when we offer the flexibility of learning whenever and wherever works for you. Education should adapt to meet the needs of our students, not the other way around.”
Dr. Trombley notes the importance of this commitment to online education when landing in her current role with the university: “When I learned more about The Chicago School, I knew that this was the right place for me as a higher education leader because the university’s commitment to flexible online learning is so vibrant and long-lasting. The Chicago School is not just getting into online education today, like so many other schools. They’ve walked the walk for so long now, developing expertise that helps students reach their academic and professional goals.”
In her current role, Dr. Trombley focuses on equipping programs with the resources and support they need to further the university’s shared mission of educating the next generation of integrated health change-makers. “I want every student to feel the power of that mission in every classroom session, every clinical experience, and every professional development event,” she says.
Looking ahead, Dr. Trombley is excited about the continued mission-focused growth on the horizon for the university. “We are not focused on growth for growth’s sake,” she says. “We’re focused on opportunities to extend our impact across the globe, keeping our shared mission at the forefront of all decision-making. This approach makes me really proud to be part of The Chicago School community.”