Louise Love, Dissertation Fellow

Louise Love Alumnae Dissertation Fellow, 1981

Louise Love retired from a 30-year career in higher education administration in July of 2014. With the help of a dissertation year fellowship from The Alumnae of Northwestern, she earned a Ph.D. in English with a specialty in English Renaissance drama in 1984. Her dissertation, The Saint’s Play in England during the Protestant Transition, explored the ways in which the popular genre of saint’s play survived in England after the genre was outlawed under Tudor monarchs.

Having spent 17 years as a part-time student to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Louise enthusiastically accepted a position with Northwestern’s Division of Continuing Education (now School of Continuing Studies) after receiving her doctorate. She worked there with returning adult students for 16 years, ending as vice dean. In 2000, she joined Roosevelt University as associate provost and served there for six years. In 2006, Louise went to Columbia College Chicago as deputy provost. In 2007, she was made vice president for academic affairs. She continued in that role until retirement and also took on the role of interim provost for the last three years.

In 1998, Louise attended Harvard’s summer MLE Institute to study the management of lifelong education; and in 2000, she undertook training in mediation through the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago. In 1990, she and other members of her administrative team received a Team Leadership Award from the American Association of University Administrators. In 2003, she received an Alumni Merit Award from the Northwestern Alumni Association.

Reflection on the Alumnae Fellowship: Looking back on a most gratifying career in higher education administration, Louise is profoundly grateful to the dedicated women of The Alumnae of Northwestern University, and especially Helen Foster, for providing opportunities for women to pursue their scholarly interests and complete the degrees that open doors to fulfilling professional lives.

Note: Louise Love passed away November 6, 2021.