Dr. Rollin “R.D.” Nordgren, a professor and past chair of Educational Leadership at National University in La Jolla, California, has been named Dean of the School of Education at Piedmont College. As the Dean of Education, Nordgren will guide the college’s largest academic unit, which includes nearly 1,400 majors.

A native of Illinois, Nordgren attended the University of South Florida (Tampa, Florida) where he received a B.S. in English Education, a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies. For eight years, Nordgren was an Associate Professor of Education at Cleveland State University (Ohio) where he also served as department chair and Director of Undergraduate Curriculum.

The author of three books and more than 40 articles and book chapters on school reform, leadership, and curriculum, Nordgren has worked as a teacher and administrator at middle and high schools in Florida. 

Piedmont’s School of Education operates the largest graduate program for teacher education in the state of Georgia. It is also the state’s second-highest producer of teachers. The College is finalizing plans to convert Nielsen Hall on the Demorest campus to a new home for the School.

“The College will benefit from Dr. Nordgren’s vast and varied background in leadership, curriculum develop, assessment, scholarship, and research,” said Piedmont College President James F. Mellichamp. “There is a lot of energy and excitement at the School. Dr. Nordgren will guide this exceptional program to new heights.”

The School of Education offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs on the college’s campuses in Athens and Demorest.  It also offers graduate programs through several off-campus cohorts in Georgia. Nordgren will take his new post July 1.

“I’m truly excited to be a member of the Piedmont College community and to work with such wonderful faculty and staff,” said Nordgren. The College’s vision, mission, and core values resonate with me, both professionally and personally; these will form the basis of all our work at the College, fostering the citizen-leaders that our communities deserve.”