By Renee Larr
Fishers resident Crystal Neumann will be honored at the 46th annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund International Convention July 12 in Chicago. She will be recognized for her impact in higher education.
Neumann works for the American College of Education in Indianapolis as the department chair for Leadership and Administration.
“I’m in charge of all faculty and students within the department of leadership. I’m also responsible for coaching faculty and being there to support them in any way I can,” she said.
Neumann has worked to create affordable options at ACE for students working toward their doctorate.
“I know that a doctoral degree is a dream for a lot of people, and I think once they look at the price, that’s when they really start to question themselves about if this is something they should do,” Neumann said.
Even in an online program, some students are required to travel once a year for a residency program.
“I was one of those people who would fly out once a year to do exactly that. It was pricey in terms of traveling, lodging and taking time off work. It takes a toll on your family,” Neumann said.
She didn’t want anyone else to feel the financial burden she did when pursuing a doctorate.
“I pushed with ACE in making that process virtual. Let’s still provide that one-on-one feedback and let’s bring in people to talk about their dissertations. Let’s have live webinar sessions so they aren’t losing the interconnectivity they would in face-to-face residency. It was a huge game-changer,” she said.
Neumann said she is happy she can help others realize their dreams of higher education.
“I am very honored and very humbled that I have been able to be a servant leader in that way. I’m just grateful because I know I’m not the only one who is trying to make change,” she said.
For more, visit rainbowpush.org.
