DR. TRACEY HEBERT
Vice President of Academic Affairs

Brief job description:  Responsible for administration and leadership of the institution's education department, programs, personnel, curriculum, and student services. Serve as a member of the school's management team.

Education:  Ph.D. in Education Leadership with a major in Higher Education Administration from Oakland University. M.A. in Education Leadership with a major in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. B.S. in Sociology from Abilene Christian University.

Previous experience:  20 years in Higher Education serving as Vice President of the College of Extended Learning at Rochester College, Director of Faulkner University's Birmingham Campus, and Director of Admissions, Assistant to the President, Director of College Relations, and Admissions Counselor at Northeaster Christian Jr. College in Pennsylvania.  

What do all successful grads seem to have in common?  The ability to start something, overcome obstacles/challenges, and see it through to the finish.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?  
I try to step back and see the big picture and look for perspectives that I have not considered before. This involves connecting with people who know more about the subject than I do and be open to listening to what they have to say. Their perspective coupled with whatever I bring to the discussion could produce some really creative ideas that have potential to actually work!

Do you have a favorite radio station? WWJ. The traffic report determines whether my commute will be 30-minutes or an hour-and-30-minutes.   

What would people be surprised to know about you?  Once upon a time, I was a police officer. 

What do you watch when you turn on the TV?  Sports, news, and occasionally a few shows (24, CSI, Start Trek re-runs, James Bond movies). 

Favorite TV commercial: Beer commercials have been the best and most creative for as long as I can remember.

What TV advertisements bother you the most? 
Beer commercials, because of the product's addictive and mind-altering nature that causes so much damage to so many lives.

Who would you most like to interview?  God.  I have lots of questions for God; however, I believe I would forget them all if I actually had the chance to interview Him. 

Favorite place: Vermont - born and raised there. 

Pets: Dog and cat (but the dog is fairly pathetic. We need a real dog).  

Favorite movie: Titanic - a sociologist's paradise! 

Best book: The Bible. It contains just about every kind of story, intrigue, suspense, imagination, humor, disappointment, elation, sex, violence, and spiritual and moral questions and answers than anyone could possibly hope for or dream up on their own!

Special talents/skills/hobbies: I love to play golf (or at least get out there and act like I think I'm playing golf). I also love playing sports with my kids. 

Greatest accomplishment: My wife and kids. Nothing else comes close.

What do you enjoy most about working at Specs?  It is an exciting place to be with lots of hopeful learners who have dreams to pursue and I can help them get there!

Subjects that interest me: My faith, my family, education, and sports (football and golf).