Meet Dr. Austin Rickels, whose dedication to education has led him from teaching high school to becoming an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. His story shows the transformative power of higher education and the impact of the LDL program in his journey.

Regarding pursuing an EdD from the LDL program, Dr. Rickels highlights: “This degree challenged me to reengineer my traditional assumptions of teaching and learning while also giving me the freedom to become my own architect as a teacher-leader. The LDL program consisted of a strong community of people who were willing to work together to achieve greatness on all fronts of the educational experience.”

📝 Key Learnings and Experiences: During his time in the program, Dr. Rickels's dissertation on sport psychology curriculum was a pivotal experience, enhancing his research, writing, and intellectual capabilities. Additionally, the courses he completed have significantly influenced his teaching and leadership philosophy.

💼 Valuable Advice for Aspiring Educators: Dr. Rickels emphasizes the invaluable reputation and networking opportunities offered by the University of Illinois. The connections he made through the program opened up publishing avenues and expanded his academic horizons.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Support and Community: The support from his cohort, Dr. Kalantzis, Dr. Cope, and individuals like Dr. Kara Francis was instrumental in his success. This strong network ensured that he never felt alone, even during the most challenging phases of his academic journey. “The LDL EdD program is ahead of its time. It is the future of online education and it's not afraid to test the academic waters for what is possible in academia. It's also built on people and community. These are humanistic values that are oftentimes hard to foster in a virtual setting.”

🎓 Proud Achievements: Austin Rickels started his EdD in 2018 and proudly earned his degree in 2021. His EdD diploma now hangs in his faculty office, symbolizing his hard-earned accomplishments and the bright future ahead.

Dr. Austin Rickels has an amazing journey from high school teacher to university professor! 🎉👨‍🎓 #StudentSpotlight #LDL