Office of the Dean

Dr. Carolyn Theard-Griggs was appointed as the Dean of the National College of Education (NCE) at National Louis University in June 2022.    

She comes to NCE with experience as both a classroom educator and a policy advocate at both the state and district level. Prior to joining NCE, she spent several years as the Dean of the College of Education at Chicago State University and she has also been a faculty and administrator in multiple settings, as well as a classroom teacher for grades K-3 for 10 years. Currently, she serves as School District #161 School Board President.

Dr. Theard-Griggs holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Policy from Loyola University Chicago, an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University, and a B.A. in Elementary Education from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. 

Dean Theard-Griggs is the mother of four teenage children and married to a retired Chicago Public Schools principal. She is fascinated with her children's lens and the opportunity to learn their perspectives regarding their school systems—both the positive aspects and also areas for potential change. 

"Since the pandemic and global injustices, educators have been faced
with incredibly challenging times; however, at NCE, I believe we have
the opportunity to wrestle with these challenges and figure out among
stakeholders what's next in education. Realizing there is a lot of work
to be done, I strive to advance the reputation of this college as a national
leader in educator preparation and work towards the commitment that
every child deserves a great teacher.”

Carolyn Theard-Griggs, Ed.D.
Dean of the National College of Education (NCE)