{"id":120686,"date":"2026-02-13T15:59:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T21:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=120686\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T15:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:59:31","slug":"presidents-message-2026-growth-strategic-vision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/psychology\/presidents-message-2026-growth-strategic-vision\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s to the Future We Are Building Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we enter 2026, I reflect with gratitude and optimism on what The Chicago School community has accomplished and look with great anticipation for what lies ahead.<\/p>\n

The past year was one of extraordinary momentum for our institution. Last year, we didn\u2019t simply grow; we advanced with purpose as we kicked off the five-year strategic plan, Inspire 2030, which is centered around developing tomorrow\u2019s workforce, shaping the future of integrated healthcare education, redefining excellence across the student journey, and building an agile and inclusive community. In 2025, we also expanded our physical footprint and our national presence, completing major construction milestones across multiple campuses. In Dallas, we celebrated the expansion of our campus to meet growing demand. In Washington, D.C., we successfully relocated to a new campus that better supports our students and programs. And in Chicago, alongside The Community Solution Educational System, we completed the construction of our new West Loop campus, an investment in the city we proudly call home and a symbol of our long-term commitment to innovation, access, and community impact.<\/p>\n

\"People\"People<\/p>\n

\"People\"People<\/p>\n

\"People\"People<\/p>\n

Equally important was the energy and engagement we saw across our academic community. Faculty continued to publish impactful research and thought leadership pieces, advancing knowledge in psychology, behavioral sciences, and related fields at a moment when these disciplines are more vital than ever.<\/p>\n

There were numerous exciting milestones throughout the year, including the outstanding growth of our flagship Clinical Psy.D. program<\/a>, the university\u2019s most sought-after coursework over the past 40 years. This program strives to reduce the shortage of clinical psychologists nationwide by preparing culturally competent professionals to join the workforce. Since 2014, the program has been responsible for almost 1,000 graduates, 1 in 11 psychologists in Illinois alone, and now offers five full-tuition Clinical Psychology Impact Fellowships<\/a> for students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership potential, and strong commitment to public mental health.<\/p>\n

Although I am proud of all our substantial accomplishments, I want to highlight three that represent the steps we consistently take toward fulfilling our mission.<\/p>\n

\"\"The first was our recent honor to have earned the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement<\/a>\u2014one of the highest national designations recognizing institutions deeply committed to reciprocal community partnerships\u2014which only underscores our deep and sustained commitment to service, practical experience, and impact beyond our campuses. The Chicago School is one of 277 institutions nationwide to hold such a distinction, and one among 97 private universities.<\/p>\n

The second was welcoming prospective students in our first accepted-student events for The Chicago School\u2019s upcoming Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine<\/a> (IllinoisCOM). The enthusiasm, curiosity, and sense of shared purpose were unmistakable, and this is only the beginning. We look forward to many more moments like this as we prepare to welcome our inaugural class this fall.<\/p>\n

\"Prospective<\/p>\n

And finally, our bold step forward in expanding access to education with the launch of our new, fully online, 90-credit degree B.A. Psychology: Focused Path<\/a>\u2014a program designed to be one of the fastest routes to graduate study and mental health careers in the United States. As one of the first programs of its kind in the nation, it reflects our commitment to innovation, affordability, and meeting learners where they are.<\/p>\n

As we look at 2026, our focus is clear. We will continue to expand and strengthen our academic programs. We will proudly welcome the first class of IllinoisCOM in Fall 2026. And we will deepen our commitment to collaboration across disciplines, campuses, and with the communities we serve.<\/p>\n

Thanks to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners, and supporters who sustain this incredible progress, I can state confidently and proudly that this year holds great promise and even greater accomplishments.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s to the future we are building together, a future of better education and integrated health, for all.<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we enter 2026, I reflect with gratitude and optimism on what The Chicago School community has accomplished and look with great anticipation for what lies ahead. The past year was one of extraordinary momentum for our institution. Last year, we didn\u2019t simply grow; we advanced with purpose as we kicked off the five-year strategic plan, Inspire 2030, which is centered around developing tomorrow\u2019s workforce, shaping the future of integrated healthcare education, redefining excellence across the student journey, and building […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":120707,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198,113],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1047],"class_list":["post-120686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-psychology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHere\u2019s to the Future We Are Building Together<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"President Michele Nealon, PsyD, reflects on a year of growth and outlines a bold vision for 2026 and beyond.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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