Dr. Patricia Swails

A native of St. Louis, MO, Dr. Patricia Swails moved to Indiana in 1975 and began her career at OCU in the former School of Technology.  Dr. Swails holds a bachelor’s degree from Oakland City University, a master’s degree from California State University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from Indiana State University.  She holds the distinction of having taught in each university school: Arts & Sciences, Business, the former Adult & Extended Learning, Chapman Seminary; and Education.

Over her career, Dr. Swails has been an administrative assistant for the School of Technology; Director of Upward Bound, a college preparation program for high school students; Associate Dean of the School of Education; Dean of the School of Education; OCU Provost; and graduate faculty, all at Oakland City University.  After a year serving as Interim Dean of Education at Indiana University-Kokomo, Dr. Swails returned to OCU as Professor of Education and is currently teaching quantitative and qualitative research design, applied statistical analysis, administrative policies & procedures, and personnel evaluation in the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program.

Dr. Swails has served the Indiana Department of Education as an 8-year member of the Teacher Education Committee and serves the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education as a Board of Examiner team chair.  She has served her profession as president of the Indiana Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, president of the Association of Teacher  Educators - Indiana Unit, and is currently a member of the national Association of Teacher Educators’ Professional Journal Committee.