2025 - Dr. Linda Simpson

2025 - Dr. Linda Simpson

Faculty Senate

Description

Dr. Linda Simpson has dedicated more than three decades to Eastern Illinois University, beginning as an adjunct instructor in the 1990s and joining the faculty in 1997. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to teaching, innovation, service, and student success.

A trailblazer in online teaching and learning, Dr. Simpson taught EIU’s first online course and played an instrumental role in shaping the university’s early digital learning environment. She helped establish the Center for Academic Technology Services (CATS), provided one-on-one mentorship to faculty transitioning online, and has served as a Quality Matters reviewer, a role that involves critically evaluating online courses to ensure they meet rigorous standards for design, accessibility, and learner engagement. She was one of the first faculty to earn a Quality Online Course designation for her general education course, Personal and Family Financial Literacy .Her expertise in instructional technology has been recognized through multiple grants and university honors, as well as invitations to present at local, state, national, and international conferences. She has also consulted with higher education institutions across the country to enhance their online learning capacity.

Dr. Simpson is widely recognized for her leadership in financial literacy education. She founded and continues to coordinate the Financial Literacy Minor and established the Literacy in Financial Education (LIFE) Center after securing a highly competitive grant to strengthen financial education for EIU students. Her work has expanded far beyond campus, creating impactful financial literacy initiatives for parents, youth, and older adults. Her book, Mindful and Intentional Money Management, further extends her mission to empower individuals and families with practical money management skills. Her curriculum development has reached global communities, including the creation of the Finance for Her program that has educated more than 700 women in rural India.

Her service to the university spans every level of leadership. Dr. Simpson has chaired and served on major search committees, supported departmental accreditation efforts, advised student organizations, and held significant roles across department, college, and university committees. As department chair and assistant chair, she strengthened academic programs, supported faculty development, and promoted student engagement. She has also served in elected leadership roles on bodies such as the Council on Graduate Studies and the Intercollegiate Athletic Board.

Dr. Simpson’s professional service includes extensive work with state and national associations, textbook and journal review, conference leadership, and advocacy for financial education at the state level. Her dedication to supporting older adults through technology is reflected in her past presidency of the Senior Independent Living Collaborative, where she developed innovative resources to help seniors safely age in place.

p> Equally committed to her community, Dr. Simpson has served on multiple nonprofit boards, supported domestic violence initiatives, volunteered with youth programs, and contributed significantly to ministries at Kansas Christian Church. Her service has strengthened local organizations such as CASA, the Coalition for People in Need, and community outreach programs that support vulnerable children and families.

Across her career, Dr. Simpson has exemplified unwavering dedication to students, colleagues, the university, and the broader community. Her work has transformed financial education, advanced online learning, expanded community impact, and strengthened the mission of Eastern Illinois University.

Publication Date

Fall 2025

2025 - Dr. Linda Simpson

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