Communication Faculty

Miranda Brand is the dean and vice president of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and School of Aviation at Purdue Global. Brand's areas of expertise are in leadership development, industry partnerships, faculty mentoring and new program development. As dean, Brand oversees more than 700 faculty members across 45 academic programs and five academic departments. She also cultivates the more than 1,000 college-industry partnerships that the college maintains. Brand’s experience in education allows her to focus on student success while serving almost 11,000 students who are pursuing degrees at the doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, associate and certificate levels.

Since 2011, Brand has served as the associate dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In this role, she facilitated the development and launch of twelve degree programs in the college, served on numerous university cross-functional action teams to promote institutional improvements and worked with then Dean Sander for over a decade to create and implement a strong college-industry partnership program for students and employer partners. Additionally, she has served in faculty and department chair positions within the college since joining the University in 2006. Prior professional experience includes 20 years of public education service in various roles including teacher, curriculum coordinator, district staff development presenter, and school administrator.

Education: EdD, Nova Southeastern University;  MA, Educational Leadership, Fayetteville State University; BS, Education, Methodist University

Maggie Morgan joined the university as an adjunct faculty member in 2006 before transitioning to a full-time role in 2007. Morgan has almost two decades of progressive leadership experience in higher education driving strategic initiatives, fostering program innovation, and enhancing student and faculty persistence. Most recently, she has led initiatives focused on integrating service learning and AI into the curriculum, developed the College’s first departmental YouTube channel, and integrated employment competencies into assessments. Morgan previously provided operational oversight for the Graduate School of Education, directing faculty management, the development of programs, authored accreditation standards, and established the school’s first assessment committee. Morgan is a dedicated advocate committed to advancing the educational success of military-affiliated learners and their families. In the Fall of 2024, Morgan was chosen as the keynote speaker for a dinner honoring military and military-affiliated graduates. She has also represented Purdue Global at two White House events related to her work focused on military children.

Education: PhD, Capella University; MEd, Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Memberships: American Psychological Association (APA); Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (ALHE), and the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS)    

Research Interests: Assessment in higher education, resilience, educational outcomes in military children
 

Tessa Holst currently serves as the assistant dean of students within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences where she oversees and generates initiatives to develop student engagement and improve student retention. She is also responsible for problem identification and resolution for second-level student complaints and conflicts. Prior to her current role, Holst served as the graduation director and event planner within the Provost Office. She was responsible for bi-annual graduation event ceremonies, celebrations, and faculty retreats. She has worked in higher education for over 25 years and recently completed her second term as school board member for her local school district, having served for 4 years as president. 

Education: MS, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global)

Honors and Achievements: 2017 Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Non-Academic Support Team Award (Kaplan University), 2005 Hero Award (Kaplan University), 2003 Extra Mile Award (Kaplan Higher Education)

April Hrabar has been with Purdue Global since 2020 as an instructor with the School of Nursing. Before joining the Purdue Global team, Hrabar was the administrator of an online undergraduate health sciences program and the senior leader of a multi-leveled nursing department. In her 15 years’ experience in higher education, she has focused on adult and non-traditional learners, online instruction, program development and expansion, and institutional and programmatic accreditation.

As part of her passion for connecting students with global initiatives, she was previously the founder and executive director of an organization providing aid and medical care for Indigenous people of the Amazon Rainforest. Through this foundation, she has immersed students and faculty in life-changing cultural experiences to make a positive impact in these fragile communities. She continues to pursue community outreach in promotion of global health and wellness.

Education: EdD in Educational Leadership, Liberty University; MSN in Nursing Education, Liberty University; BS in Nursing, University of Maryland

Honors and Achievements: Nurse Leadership Institution Fellow (2010); Corporation for National Service National Service Award (2002)  

Research Interests: Professional behaviors, writing skills, faculty and student engagement in online environments

Jessie Budzinski has served as the assistant department chair for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ Human Services department since March 2021. She joined Purdue Global in 2009, as an adjunct instructor. In 2011, she added course leader to her role and in 2015, she became a full-time adjunct instructor and faculty mentor.

Before teaching in higher education, Budzinski was a field instructor for the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina where she supervised and evaluated social work students in the master’s degree program. Budzinski worked with young children with special needs and their families and has presented at state Head Start conferences and national Birth-to-Three Institutes.

Education: MSW, University of Michigan

Honors and Achievements: Human Services Faculty Member of the Year, Outstanding Professor Nomination, Outstanding Course Leader, Outstanding Full-time Adjunct Faculty Member

Research Interests: Student retention and innovation in the online classroom