Rasmussen College Welcomes Andrea Backman, Ph.D as New Chief Academic Officer

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen College today announced the appointment of Andrea Backman, Ph.D. as the new Chief Academic Officer of the College. Dr. Backman will oversee all educational affairs and activities at Rasmussen College, including new programmatic research and development, as well as faculty engagement.

"We are very excited and fortunate to have Andrea join the Rasmussen College team. She is a proven leader in the higher education industry and has always been on the forefront of taking academics to new levels through faculty development, technology and innovative teaching platforms," said Rasmussen College President Kristi Waite. "Her focus on instruction methodologies and faculty engagement will positively impact the academic experience we provide our students, and help take our programmatic and degree offerings to the next level."

Prior to joining Rasmussen College, Dr. Backman served as the Director of New Program Development and Academic Approvals at the University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.  In this role, she oversaw the approval of credit and non-credit courses and programs to ensure rigor and compliance with accreditation standards. She also worked closely with instructional design staff to build and strengthen online learning programs.

Dr. Backman also served as the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at Strayer University. During her tenure at Strayer University, she established the University's Virtual Center for Teaching and Learning, developed programs to enhance the quality of instruction, and established systems that supported faculty success.   

"Higher education is consistently changing and having a leader like Andrea – an individual who has helped institutions navigate and implement change – is a great benefit to Rasmussen College," said Chairman of Rasmussen College Board of Directors Dr. Henry Bienen. "I am excited about the ideas and direction that she will bring to the College."

Prior to her tenure at the University of Virginia, Dr. Backman served as the Associate Director of the Center for Distance Education at DePaul University in Chicago. In this role, she provided strategic leadership for the University's first online degree program and helped to establish DePaul's Center for Distance Education.

Dr. Backman holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Virginia, a Master's degree from DePaul University, and her undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University.

For more information on Rasmussen College, visit www.Rasmussen.edu.

To view this release in full, visit http://www.rasmussen.edu/press-release/2012-01-18/rasmussen-college-welcomes-andrea-backman-as-chief-academic-officer/.

ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE
An innovator of higher education, Rasmussen College is a regionally-accredited, private college that specializes in offering the most in-demand degree programs in a highly supportive, student-centered educational environment.  Rasmussen College offers market-relevant programs from the certificate and diploma level through the associate's and bachelor's level online and across its 22 campuses in the Midwest and Florida to more than 15,000 students. By combining its expertise in career development with high academic standards and with unparalleled student support services, graduates of Rasmussen College leave with the most up-to-date knowledge, the skills that employers look for, and the tools to succeed in their chosen field.  Since 1900, the primary focus at Rasmussen College has remained constant: student achievement is of the utmost importance, the employer who hires its students continues to be a valued partner, and Rasmussen College is dedicated to being a primary contributor to the growth and development of the communities it serves. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit www.Rasmussen.edu.

SOURCE Rasmussen College

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