NASHVILLE, TENN. —Trevecca Nazarene University has moved its leadership degree instruction under one umbrella with a few other academic programs to form the School of Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies.
The new school will serve as the administrative body for Trevecca’s graduate degree programs in leadership; leadership-related content for undergraduate courses; the master’s degree in instructional design and technology; and professional development programs. Dr. Kristin Bledsoe has been selected to serve as dean of the School of Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies.
"Developing students for servant leadership is something Trevecca has become known for across all academic disciplines, and our degree programs dedicated to leadership match up the best and most dynamic offered anywhere," said Trevecca Provost Dr. Tom Middendorf. "We’re excited about the synergy and strategy that will emerge as we manage these successful programs through one focused school."
The degree programs that will be part of the new school at Trevecca include the Doctor of Education in leadership (Ed.D.), the master’s in organizational leadership (MAOL) and the bachelor’s in management and leadership (BML) degree completion program. Both graduate programs have been recognized on national platforms in recent months; Trevecca’s Ed.D. was included in the Princeton Review’s 2022 list of top schools for online Doctor of Education degrees, and the MAOL was rated among the top six percent in the nation for 2022 by onlinemastersdegrees.com.
Bledsoe has served as associate director of Trevecca’s online Ed.D. program and as an assistant professor since 2018. She was previously the assistant director of student financial services at the University. Prior to joining Trevecca’s staff as a data coordinator in 2013, she worked in education as a teacher and principal in the Nashville area.
Bledsoe is a three-time student at Trevecca, having earned a Doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practice, a master’s in administration and leadership and a Bachelor’s in education. She was also a member of the Lady Trojan basketball teams as an undergraduate. In 2021, she was the recipient of Trevecca’s First Chapter Alumni Award, presented annually to a recent graduate who’s begun a distinguished professional career.
"At every level, I have witnessed Trevecca actively pursue innovative pedagogies in transformative leadership, living up to its mission of providing student-first service that is inclusive and committed to the growth of others," Bledsoe said. "I look forward to all the ways the School of Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies can cultivate leaders at every level while inspiring students to become better people and better leaders."
