Price looks to build upon academic reputation with first doctoral program

^{Dr. Julia Price will serve as director of Carson-Newman University’s new Doctor of Education and Educational Specialist degree programs.}

Dr. Julia Price has recently been named director of Carson-Newman University’s new Doctor of Education and Educational Specialist degree programs. Announced in June, the doctoral degree is the first to be offered by the University.

“I’m truly honored to serve Carson-Newman in any capacity,” said Price. “I’ve been associated with the school for so long it really has become a part of me.”

The assistant professor of education began her higher education as a Carson-Newman undergraduate student in 1963. She then went on to receive her master’s and doctorate in in education from East Tennessee State University.

Price has 40 years of experience as both a teacher in East Tennessee and administrator. She was named Tennessee Principal of the Year in 1999 and was a finalist again in 2006. In 2005, the Citizen Tribune named her People’s Choice for Best Principal, and in 2006 she earned the American Library Association Distinguished Administrator Award. Price has taught in an adjunct position at Carson-Newman, Tusculum and ETSU for some 20 years. In 2011 she joined Carson-Newman’s faculty full-time.

Now as director, Price looks to build on the University’s strong academic reputation as she helps oversee its first doctorate program.

“We’ve made sure that the online venue is very rigorous and quality-driven,” she said.

Carson-Newman’s first doctoral program is offered entirely online to cater to working professionals and is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). Price said the program is one that she would have loved to have had when she was pursuing her graduate degrees.

“When I worked on my doctorate, of course online was not available, and I had to drive many hours after working all day,” she shared. “So, yes, with the reputation that Carson-Newman has, I definitely would have been right here.”

Price isn’t the only one. She said that when they began to discuss the possibility of the doctoral and specialist program, they discovered over 100 interested professionals just in the immediate area.

“We’ve heard over and over from our candidates that they have been waiting on Carson-Newman to do this.”

Forty-two applicants are expected to begin the program this fall, and Price hopes to see the program grow beyond the current demographic area.

However she points out that the program “will never grow beyond individual and personable relationships with our students.” Individuality and rigor are what set Carson-Newman apart, said Price.

“It is a great opportunity for someone who is wanting to professionally be the best they can be,” she said.

Carson-Newman offers several paths in the program.

“This is under the umbrella of Educational Leadership, and the degrees include both the doctoral and specialist degrees in administration or curriculum and instruction, and a specialist degree in school counseling and mental health counseling,” Price explained. All education sections are strictly on-line, but the counseling sections have an on-campus portion.

“We’ve planned these programs specifically for working administrators and teachers and others who are looking for supervisory or leadership roles because we’ve been in those role ourselves.”

For more information visit: cn.edu/grad-ed