Engineering and Technology Education
Communication, Professional, and Computer Skills Lecturer
Kelley School of Business, Indiana University

With an educational background in communication and leadership, and 18 years working in higher education settings, including in public relations at the State University of New York at Potsdam and then in counseling roles in student affairs and academic affairs at North Carolina Central University, Deidre L. Kelly ‘20EDD knew she wanted to teach undergraduate students.

In order to teach undergraduate students, she needed a doctorate. The engineering and technology education program at NC State was perfect for her because it allowed her to combine her professional experience, skills and interests. At NC State, Kelly picked up a minor in adult and community college education, completed the Teaching and Communication Certificate Program and is a graduate of the NC State Graduate School’s Preparing the Professoriate Program.

In fall 2020, Kelly started as a teaching faculty member in the Communication, Professional, and Computer Skills Department at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, a Research 1 university and a business school ranked 10th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. In this role, she teaches undergraduate business communication courses that prepare students to write strategic, effective and ethical messages and to collaborate in global business environments. Kelly is also responsible for service to the university, school and department, which can include leadership in teaching innovation, mentoring, peer review, course or curricular development and scholarship in teaching and learning.

“The technology education program was perfect for me because it allowed me to combine my professional experience, skills and interests into a degree I was able to mold to fit my needs.”

Deidre L. Kelly

Her Story

“The technology education program was perfect for me because it allowed me to combine my professional experience, skills and interests into a degree I was able to mold to fit my needs. Because it was an Ed.D. program, I had the flexibility to take the courses that would best help me become a strong educator.

I was incredibly fortunate to be both a teaching assistant and instructor of record for courses in the Technology, Engineering, and Design Education undergraduate program. This enabled me to put what I was learning about education as a graduate student directly to use in the classroom in real time. I was able to travel internationally to attend conferences and present research I co-authored with the financial support of the STEM Education Department and the NC State College of Education. I was also asked to serve on committees and attend recruiting events for the program and department.

Being the instructor of record for the Desktop Publishing and Imaging Technology, Digital Media Education, and Emerging Issues in Technology courses was invaluable in so many ways. I got to know who I am as an educator and what works for me in a real teaching environment. I had wonderful faculty mentors who I could go to with all my questions and discuss how to implement new strategies. My students taught me so much as well. They were simply amazing every day. Their creativity, ambition and humor was nothing short of inspiring.”