Jeanne Widen
Dr. Jeanne Widen is the Interim Dean of Loyola University Chicago’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, a position she’s held for several years. In that role, she’s been instrumental in creating a collaborative team of faculty and staff who serve working adults and non-traditional students with flexible, high-quality programs, comprehensive student support, and a compassionate community. During her time as Interim Dean, she has expanded school offerings with professionally relevant, interdisciplinary, and application-oriented programs that foster career advancement and lifelong learning, comprising undergraduate degrees, stackable certificates, graduate degrees (including the first Master of Professional Studies degrees to be offered at LUC) and accelerated bachelors-masters programs. She has also revitalized marketing, outreach, and recruitment efforts, built an effective shared governance structure, and led successful DEI and assessment initiatives that have resulted in school and programmatic improvements. Under her leadership, SCPS’ online bachelor’s degrees have consistently been ranked within the top 20 programs nationwide by US News and World Report.
Widen’s work at SCPS builds on decades of teaching and administrative experience in higher education in the United States and abroad, in both traditional and online programs. She launched her career at The University of Chicago, where she received her PhD in English Language and Literature, then worked at top universities in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she lived for nine years, teaching literature and writing courses and serving as Director of International Programs and Director of Common Core Studies. Back in the US, she attained expertise in online and adult education at Ellis University, then came to SCPS as Director of Online Education to develop its online courses and programs, focusing on quality standards and procedures for faculty training and course design. Two years later she became Associate Dean, a position which allowed her to extend her work with faculty development and support and further combine quality and innovation with academic oversight and program development.
Creating an inclusive environment has been a cornerstone of her work at SCPS. As someone with a personal and professional life that encompasses different cultures, nationalities, languages, religions, and gender identities, she’s committed to fostering a culture that honors difference. She’s devoted to the Jesuit values of Loyola University Chicago, the SCPS mission of educational access, and the calling to provide a transformative education to a diverse population of non-traditional students.
Dr. Jeanne Widen is the Interim Dean of Loyola University Chicago’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, a position she’s held for several years. In that role, she’s been instrumental in creating a collaborative team of faculty and staff who serve working adults and non-traditional students with flexible, high-quality programs, comprehensive student support, and a compassionate community. During her time as Interim Dean, she has expanded school offerings with professionally relevant, interdisciplinary, and application-oriented programs that foster career advancement and lifelong learning, comprising undergraduate degrees, stackable certificates, graduate degrees (including the first Master of Professional Studies degrees to be offered at LUC) and accelerated bachelors-masters programs. She has also revitalized marketing, outreach, and recruitment efforts, built an effective shared governance structure, and led successful DEI and assessment initiatives that have resulted in school and programmatic improvements. Under her leadership, SCPS’ online bachelor’s degrees have consistently been ranked within the top 20 programs nationwide by US News and World Report.
Widen’s work at SCPS builds on decades of teaching and administrative experience in higher education in the United States and abroad, in both traditional and online programs. She launched her career at The University of Chicago, where she received her PhD in English Language and Literature, then worked at top universities in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she lived for nine years, teaching literature and writing courses and serving as Director of International Programs and Director of Common Core Studies. Back in the US, she attained expertise in online and adult education at Ellis University, then came to SCPS as Director of Online Education to develop its online courses and programs, focusing on quality standards and procedures for faculty training and course design. Two years later she became Associate Dean, a position which allowed her to extend her work with faculty development and support and further combine quality and innovation with academic oversight and program development.
Creating an inclusive environment has been a cornerstone of her work at SCPS. As someone with a personal and professional life that encompasses different cultures, nationalities, languages, religions, and gender identities, she’s committed to fostering a culture that honors difference. She’s devoted to the Jesuit values of Loyola University Chicago, the SCPS mission of educational access, and the calling to provide a transformative education to a diverse population of non-traditional students.