With more than 24 years of experience in higher education, Dr. McCready earned a Doctorate of Education from the University of Pennsylvania, where she wrote her dissertation on “Technology Enhanced Teaching and Learning.” The dissertation examined how three distinct universities focused on research and teaching have influenced the evolution of technology-enhanced teaching and learning practices. She also has a Masters in Education from Harvard University.

Dr. McCready has been at NU since 2017, leading a team of about 95 full-time staff who are responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of integrated services that support university students, faculty, and staff in the use of information technology. She was responsible for developing a strategy to improve the navigation of university resources for students, as well as leading a project to “reimagine” university IT service management.

Prior to coming to Northwestern, Dr. McCready served as the Director of Academic IT Services for the University of Oxford, where she was responsible for developing the school’s IT support for learning, teaching, and research. She has also worked for several of the world’s leading research institutions including the University of Oxford, New York University, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University.

NU recently announced that Dr. McCready is leaving the school to become the University of Pennsylvania’s inaugural Associate Vice Provost of Technology and Digital Initiatives for Penn Libraries. Her last day at Northwestern will be August 31.

“In her three years with Northwestern IT, Peggy has had an enormous impact on aligning units that deliver client-facing services and support,” wrote Sean Reynolds, Northwestern’s Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, in the email to staff. “She has worked broadly across the University and with her leadership team to strengthen and enhance the level of services we provide while leading a number of strategic efforts that will have a long-lasting impact on the Northwestern community.”
Reynolds added that a transition plan will be implemented by September 1.