Faculty member, Dr. Everett V. Smith, shares MESA program benefits
Faculty Member, Everett V. Smith, PhD, Shares MESA Program Benefits Heading link
UIC’s Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment (MESA) program has helped experienced professionals become stronger, more successful evidence-based decision makers. Everett V. Smith, PhD, a professor and program director for the MEd MESA Online, shares his history with the program, insight on what students can expect, and the program benefits.
What is your educational background, and why did you decide to teach in the online MESA program at UIC?
I’ve been teaching at UIC since 1998. I was introduced to classroom assessment methods during my Master of Teaching program, and I did well so that the faculty member at the time offered me a research/teaching assistantship to pursue a PhD in MESA. Our college then decided the face-to-face MEd in MESA would be the college’s first online program. I’ve been teaching in the online program since its inception in Fall 2009.
What type of students thrive in the online MESA Program?
All MESA courses are asynchronous, which allows students to learn on their own time without a set class schedule. Students who are self-disciplined and remember to access the course frequently will thrive.
What are job prospects for students who graduate from the online MESA program at UIC?
The job prospects for MESA graduates are very good. They can secure jobs that can be found in a wide array of fields that cover educational, healthcare, behavioral, medical, and social science research settings. Job titles of some of our graduates include:
- Vice President of Psychometric Services
- Director of Institutional Research
- Senior Researcher Evaluation Consultant
- Director of Research Assessment
- Specialist Head of Group Assessments
- Quantitative Research Associate Director
- Exam Development and Psychometrics Testing Training Specialist
Have you seen an increase in demand for MESA prepared students? What is driving demand?
There has always been a strong demand for our MESA students in my 25+ years in the field. The main drivers of the demand for our graduates are industries needing people with methodological (quantitative and qualitative) skills to understand existing data, conduct research, run testing programs, and more.
MESA online quantitative research graduates are in high demand. Receiving this nationally ranked graduate degree, students are ready to succeed in a variety of research settings and environments. Choose from two online programs, a Master of Education Degree or a Graduate Certificate, and begin your journey today. To learn more, visit mesaonline.ec.uic.edu/programs/contact-us.