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Liberty University
James Wheeler* (name changed at request of individual interviewed)
Director of a Ph.D. in Leadership program
Class of 2006, Educational Specialist
Class of 2008, doctoral degree in education
Liberty University
For many students, the most attractive aspect of online education is the way it doesn’t interfere with their lifestyle. They’re able to keep their current jobs and routines while earning a degree that provides access to a new and improved career. James Wheeler is the perfect example. Wheeler had long since made up his mind when it came to his career. He envisioned himself as an executive director, or academic vice president, of a higher education institution. However, to get there, he knew he would need more than just his bachelor’s degree. Because of his full-time position as an educator, online education was a must.
Seven years later, Wheeler is making his dream a reality. He completed both his Educational Specialist and Doctor of Education degrees through Liberty University Online. He currently works as the director of a Ph.D. in Leadership program at a Christian liberal arts university, in addition to teaching leadership classes for two other online universities, where he lives out the core of the education he pursued at Liberty.
“I was drawn to Liberty Online because of the seven-year time frame to complete the program, ease of online classes, and low tuition,” Wheeler said. “The school’s reputation was a factor also.”
Liberty’s reputation as a Christian university that featured advanced training for those who hoped to assume a leadership role in education with a Christian worldview, all while being approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, helped Liberty make a name for itself in online education. Features like these provided the main draw for Wheeler and also helped establish him in his current position. While some pundits of online education claim that online degrees are not as effective as traditional degrees in the workplace, Wheeler and Liberty prove otherwise.
Liberty’s program had such a profound impact on Wheeler that he can cite specific examples from his own education that helped shape his current curriculum and teaching processes. “I had one class in Educational Leadership where I had to write my philosophy of leadership and endure a 360-degree audit of my leadership by colleagues,” Wheeler said. “My Liberty degrees have helped me to advance in my current career field as the baseline credential, and through the knowledge I gained in educational processes, especially online.”
Spending seven years studying curriculum and instruction in educational leadership through Liberty also shaped the program Wheeler currently teaches, which is rooted in the principles he wrote about in his dissertation, Excellent Leadership — The Behaviors and Practices of a Successful High School Principal in an Urban High School. Students in Wheeler’s doctoral program integrate research, theory, and practice to create a system of knowledge for students to rely upon after completing the program. His students develop critical thinking skills using scholarly research, writing, and learning within a biblical Christian worldview.
As the doctoral chair of a leadership program, Wheeler naturally has advice for those who want to follow in his footsteps. “My tips would be to set up a schedule and classroom environment just like [you would for] a regular class,” Wheeler said. “Dress for class and only do class work during that time. In other words, treat the online courses as [traditional] classes.”
Additionally, Wheeler advises prospective students to take an online sample or preparation course before beginning actual classes. Knowing what to expect when entering an online class gives the student a distinct advantage when it comes to academic success.
