Megan Tisdale Staff Spotlight
Megan Tisdale not only works for the School of Nursing as special assistant to the dean; she will also complete a case study of DUSON as her dissertation for a doctorate in higher education administration.
Tisdale finished her master’s degree and Ed.D. coursework in the discipline at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., before taking the position here in February.
“I will look at all the different things that have happened at DUSON through different frameworks such as women in leadership, student development and enrollment management,” she says.
Tisdale will devote evenings and weekends to her dissertation research. And she’s accustomed to pairing work on an advanced degree with a full-time job. She served as director of admissions for The George Washington University’s Medical School for several years while in graduate school.
During business hours at DUSON, Tisdale handles a variety of special projects selected by Dean Catherine L. Gilliss. Her largest right now is to document the complete history of the School and ensure the preservation of key artifacts in the University Archives.
“Some things we’ve had in our buildings, some in people’s personal collections, some things in off-site storage,” including a dusty warehouse and storeroom, Tisdale says. “We want to make sure it all forms a cohesive story. We’re working to create some displays in the archives, especially online displays, some possibly in conjunction with the Women’s Center.”
The online displays will be an important way for alumni of the School to reconnect, she adds.
Tisdale also assists the Dean in preparing for conferences, building the School’s relationship with Duke University Medical Center, and communicating with governmental officials, among other things.
Originally from central Ohio, Tisdale earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations and political science from The Ohio State University in 1998 before moving to Washington.
Ever since she was a little girl, Tisdale has been an avid Irish dancer.
“I really love it,” she says. “I have toured most of the United States and parts of Europe and competed in the World [Irish Dancing] Championships. That was the biggest thing in my life growing up.”
Irish dancing was a family affair, with sister Erin also a performer and competitor, their mom embroidering costumes, and their dad lugging around the video camera.
When she gets settled into her new home in Chapel Hill, she says she hopes to find a local group and resume teaching and performing Irish dancing.