Mary Dixson

Dr. Mary Dixson is the Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies at Northwest Vista College.  She directs college programs such as service learning and community engagement, international programs, peace and conflict studies, distance learning, and dual enrollment. She is author and principle investigator of a five-year, $2 million Department of Education grant to improve learning outcomes for Hispanic students at NVC.

She was previously Associate Director of the Annette Strauss Institute where she studied political communication and civic education from a qualitative perspective. She crafted and led numerous projects at the high school, college, and post-college levels to engage young people in voting, politics, and community engagement, including Speak Up! Speak Out and the New Politics Forum.  She has published in such journals as Presidential Studies Quarterly and the Journal of Communication.

Before becoming an academic administrator, Dr. Dixson worked in staffing and as an internship coordinator at UT Austin.  She continues to advise young professionals about career development.

Dr. Dixson holds a BA from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois; an MA from Texas A&M, College Station; and a PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.