Indiana State University Newsroom

An Indiana State University graduate has been named one of the "40 New Voices of Quality" by a national technology industry publication.

Quality Progress, a magazine published by the American Society for Quality, recognized ISU alumna Nicole Radziwill with the honor. Radziwill, who graduated from ISU's doctor of philosophy in technology management program in 2009, is an assistant professor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. She holds various industry-related certifications and writes a blog, www.qualityandinnovation.com, which she noted is dedicated to "exploring quality, productivity and innovation in socio-technical systems."

"Issues of quality in business and industry ... have existed for 50 years," said George Maughan, professor and director of the doctoral degree in technology management program at ISU. "Recognition as being one of the new voices in quality issues is a unique honor. ... Her voice is being added to the dialogue across the country about how we adjust to the new economy, how we adjust workforce issues, global productivity and off-shoring and on-shoring issues, so it's highly relevant to today's world."

Radziwill was nominated for the award by a collaborating partner she met through the ISU program, and she learned earlier this year that she made the list.

"I was pretty excited, as you might expect!" she exclaimed. "It's a great honor to be chosen from such a large pool of highly qualified nominees from all over the world."

The honor "means that all of a sudden, my voice has been amplified," she said. She explained that, since the recognition came out in November, she has received several invitations to speak at conferences and other events, and her blog has received between double and triple the amount of visitors.

"This recognition means that I now have a significantly enhanced ability to connect with people who can benefit from my work, and hopefully, vice versa," Radziwill said.

She already had been working in technology management for almost a decade when she enrolled in ISU's doctoral program, which she explained helped her "to better understand the broader landscape of the discipline - and how my particular interest, quality systems, fit into it."

"I was impressed by the willingness of the faculty to let each student craft a plan of study that supported his or her professional goals, while maintaining a strong core program," Radziwill said. "In addition to providing me with a solid background in technology management, the ISU program enabled me to explore creative and innovative ideas in quality management which I would probably not have been encouraged to pursue had I chosen a different university."

The ISU program is a consortium partnership with several other universities across the nation: Bowling Green State University, University of Central Missouri, East Carolina University and North Carolina A&T State University. Students in the program can take classes at the partner institutions, and can also encourage faculty members to sit on their committee for their research. All program graduates receive an ISU degree.

"It's a collective consortium that lets our students gain the benefits of each institution as they go through their coursework and conceive and execute their research," Maughan said.

Radziwill's honor speaks well for the program, the professor said, who added that "the measure of any doctoral program or leadership program is the success of its graduates."

"We're always looking for new students who bring insatiable inquiry and questions to the study of technology and technology management like Nicole," Maughan said, "and we'll be pleased to have more students such as her study our curriculum."

Courses also are offered online, though the curriculum is otherwise traditional. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; admitted students then start coursework the following semester. The program includes a residency component, which includes classes scheduled to be taken on ISU's campus and provides an opportunity for members of the cohort to spend time together.

"The greatest benefits I received from ISU are the deep professional alliances and friendships I developed with other students in the program, particularly at residency," said Radziwill, adding that the bonds "will undoubtedly continue for years."

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-bjqM8Xk/0/O/i-bjqM8Xk.jpg (Submitted photo)
Nicole Radziwill

Contact: George Maughan, professor and director of the Ph.D. in technology management program, College of Technology, Indiana State University, 812-237-3368 or george.maughan@indstate.edu.

Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo-negrich@indstate.edu.