Council of College and Military Educators Honors Leader of Excelsior College Center for Military Education

William E. Kennedy award recognizes Susan Dewan’s 22-year impact on Excelsior’s military student experience, education and outreach

ALBANY, N.Y. (March, 3, 2011)– The executive director of Excelsior College’s Center for Military Education is the recipient of a prestigious award from the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME), which recognizes leadership in providing higher education programs to personnel at U.S. military installations.

Susan Dewan, who has led the development and expansion of military education programsat Excelsior College for the past 22 years, was honored with the 2011 William E. Kennedy Award at the CCME Symposium in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 14-17.

Excelsior College President John Ebersole said, “Sue has been a strong and tireless advocate for military students, their families, and for military education at all levels. Her expertise and knowledge are unparalleled, and her work has truly impacted the quality of Excelsior’s programs and services to the military community.”

Excelsior College, a nonprofit, accredited distance education institution founded in 1971, counts more than 10,000 active duty military and veterans among its student population of nearly 30,000. In addition to its distance education programs, Excelsior now provides face-to-face college instruction to military students at Fort Bliss, Texas, including to students of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

Ms. Dewan, who joined Excelsior in 1980, has spearheaded  improvements in Excelsior’s academic programs and services for military personnel, military family members and veterans. Her administrative leadership, vision and advocacy have influenced the growth in online course opportunities and other college services for these students over the years. She has also supported military-friendly offerings within Excelsior’s Center for Professional Development, a non-credit professional and career training program that is popular with military personnel in all service branches, veterans and military family members.

In addition to her work at Excelsior on behalf of military students, Ms. Dewan leads the College’s outreach and administrative efforts on military installations around the country. As a result of her efforts, Excelsior has on-site education counselors at 38 military bases in the U.S. More education counselors are being added at other bases around the country this year.

“Certainly,I am honored to receive this award,” said Ms. Dewan. “It is a privilege to work with military servicemembers and to represent Excelsior College at the same time.”

Excelsior College has been repeatedly recognized as a military-friendly college by GI Jobs and Military Advanced Education magazine. In addition:

• Excelsior’s course, “Success Strategies for Military and Veterans” has earned the 2010-2011 Innovation Award from the Center for Transforming Student Services (CENTSS). The course provides college orientation to military members and veterans and teaches transition strategies for those entering the civilian workforce after a military career.
• Many of Excelsior’s military academic advisors are veterans who are uniquely attuned to the unique needs of military students, veterans, and their spouses.
• Excelsior has a Military Spouse Scholarship Program designed to assist military husbands and wives in achieving their education and career goals.
• Excelsior’s Center for Professional Development provides non-degree training and professional development programs, many of which qualify for military education benefits.
• Excelsior President John F. Ebersole, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who served in Vietnam, received the Secretary of the Army Public Service Award in 2010, for his leadership in contributing to the Army’s educational mission.

About Excelsior

Excelsior College http://www.excelsior.eduis an accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

About CCME

CCME, a not-for-profit organization, was founded 36 years ago to promote, encourage, and deliver quality education to service members and their families in all branches of the armed services. Its membership is principally composed of military educators, civilian educators, post-secondary educational institutions, and suppliers of quality education products and services. The CCME symposium is the largest annual forum in the country with an expected attendance of about 1000 participants. The annual symposium facilitates the networking and interaction of the key leadership across these organizations in an environment that is focused on enhancing and optimizing voluntary education opportunities for the service member and their families. CCME membership is composed of military educators, civilian educators, post secondary educational institutions and suppliers of quality education products and services. CCME’s mission is to promote and provide educational programs and services and to facilitate communication between the membership and the DoD educational support network.