Dorothy A. Durkin, the associate dean for strategic development at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, was awarded the University Continuing Education Association’s Walton S. Bittner citation for outstanding service to both NYU-SCPS and UCEA. Durkin was presented the award at UCEA’s annual conference, held this year from April 11 - 14 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Durkin’s career as NYU-SCPS’s chief marketing strategist spans more than 35 years. She is recognized in the field for her pioneering work in direct and interactive marketing, database tracking, customer relationship management and trend-spotting. During her tenure, the School experienced unprecedented growth and expansion into new and diverse areas of adult education. Durkin’s marketing expertise has helped quadruple enrollments for the School. She was also instrumental in launching 14 industry-oriented Master’s degrees and developing more than 100 non-degree professional certificates. Her “sensemaking and market research” strategies have enabled the development of many new programs and formats at the School. Durkin is the primary architect of the School’s tradition of commissioning original art by renowned artists for the SCPS bulletin, the catalog of continuing education courses.
Durkin is currently chair of UCEA’s Strategic Marketing Advisory Committee. Her work with UCEA includes past membership on its Board of Directors, and she served as a commissioner on Futures and Markets. She is a popular speaker at UCEA’s annual and regional conferences, presenting trends and research findings on continuing higher education marketing, programming, and strategic planning. Durkin is a regular contributor to UCEA’s Steal These Ideas Please, a best practices marketing handbook-now in its fourth edition.
UCEA is the principal organization for continuing education in the United States, representing over 430 higher education institutions. The Association assists in the exchange of educational programs and services between colleges and affiliated nonprofit organizations, and encourages and facilitates professional development in the field.
The School of Continuing and Professional Studies (www.scps.nyu.edu) is among the 14 colleges and schools that comprise New York University, one of the largest private universities in the United States. Founded in 1934, NYU SCPS each year educates some 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students and enrolls over 40,000 in its non-degree programs. A national leader in adult and professionally oriented education, NYU SCPS programs include non-degree courses that span more than 125 fields, 14 industry-focused Master’s degree programs, and nine Bachelor’s and six Associate degree programs specially designed for working adults