NU Online Viewpoint

Since enlisting in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne has achieved success in challenging Army units and missions. Notably, Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service as an assistant team leader deployed in Iraq in support of the October 22, 2015, Operation Inherent Resolve mission to rescue over 70 Iraqi hostages. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis from Norwich University in 2017, Payne sought a rigorous online program that was relevant, flexible, and rewarding to his profession in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

As I write, our students and faculty are hard at work finishing fall term courses and moving into the holiday season. To say that this fall has been an unusual time in higher education and for our country would be an understatement. I have been in higher education for many years with this fall far from normal given the impact of COVID-19 on university operations and, more tangibly, in our personal lives. The pursuit of online studies has proven to be a great benefit and provided stability in working toward academic and professional development goals during a time in which we regularly adapt and change course. Kudos to our students and faculty who have balanced professional development, education, their own jobs, and often responsibility for children or other family members. We are certainly living in a time that requires us to expect challenge, but also achieve distinction!