Nell Bartkowiak has been appointed assistant dean of online programs, a newly created leadership position for the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She started working at Maxwell in 2003, and until recently served as the director of the Executive Master of Public Administration (E.M.P.A.) online program. In this newly created role, she will oversee all Maxwell online courses and program offerings.

“Nell has been a true leader, both in her previous roles at Maxwell and in the school in general, as she is always willing to take on new tasks and see things through to their desired outcomes,” said Dean David M. Van Slyke. “I can think of no better person to help lead the school into the future of remote education as we grow and expand in the online learning space.”

One of Bartkowiak’s first tasks will be helping the school take over all aspects of the current E.M.P.A. online program, which was launched in 2017 through a partnership with higher education online platform manager 2U. As the partnership reached its contractual end, the Maxwell School’s leadership team determined the best way to guarantee the growth of the existing program and to expand future graduate education offerings for students was through the creation of this leadership position. Bartkowiak was the perfect candidate to fill the position.

In her previous role as director of the E.M.P.A. online program, she supported the ongoing development and administration of the program, which included marketing, student recruitment and admissions, student advising and degree certification, as well as faculty recruitment, training and support. She also worked closely with the program delivery platform partner, making her well prepared to lead both the existing program and the expanded online efforts.

“I am grateful for the recognition and the opportunity to provide leadership for the school as we expand our online graduate offerings,” said Bartkowiak. “The Maxwell School has always been at the forefront of advancing education in citizenship and public affairs. And we are committed to leveraging new tools to deliver rigorous and engaging instruction online. Our mission demands that we respond with accessible and relevant educational offerings that meet the needs of today's learners.”

Before her latest position at Maxwell, Bartkowiak previously worked to support international initiatives across a consortium of small liberal arts schools, and she also served to advance international environmental policy with the federal government, among other roles. She holds a B.A. in biology and Chinese from Grinnell College (2001) and an M.I.A. from Columbia University (2002).   

By Cort Ruddy