Educating Deidra

Deidra Peaslee loves her family, loves learning and loves education. Peaslee currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer of Anoka-Ramsey Community College, while working on her EdD degree and growing two daughters. Peaslee lives in North Branch with her husband Rich and daughters Emerson and Paige. If you happen to drive down their road you might just see her out playing horse in the driveway or biking around town with the entire family. Peaslee has traveled to 14 countries and counts Brussels, Paris and Tokyo as her favorite cities abroad.

Peaslee grew up in Eureka, South Dakota with a mom teaching high school English and a father running the family business. Both her parents graduated from college and instilled the importance of education in Peaslee at a very young age. Peaslee completed her BS in psychology from South Dakota State University, a MS in counseling and student personnel from Minnesota State University at Mankato and is currently pursuing her EdD degree in leadership from St. Mary’s University.

Although Peaslee originally chose to work for Anoka-Ramsey Community College because of the geographical location she quickly learned the important role that two-year colleges play in providing quality educational opportunities at an affordable price for a diverse population of students. The greatest challenge Peaslee faces in her job is muddling through the bureaucracy in order to meet with students, hear their stories and watch them succeed.

Peaslee commutes between the Coon Rapids and Cambridge Campuses of Anoka-Ramsey Community College and maintains an office in the administration suites near the computer labs on the Cambridge campus and in the administration offices on the Coon Rapid campus. Peaslee participated in the Presidential Hiring Committee and looks forward to meeting the new president.

Peaslee is looking forward to the seeing the growth at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in the next ten years. With the alignment of Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College Peaslee believes that with the challenges come great opportunities to provide a wide range of courses to students pursuing both technical and liberal arts education in East Central Minnesota. Peaslee understands that academic programs that provide opportunities for students to develop essential skills necessary to succeed in the work place are vital; she also desires that students gain the drive to become lifelong learners so they can, “adapt to future changes.” Peaslee is believe that servant leadership is superior in the educational settings and continually pushes herself to learn new techniques and trends to help students pursue their dreams.

Peaslee competed in track throughout high school and sees sports as another way for students to learn leadership, self-discipline and academic proficiency, while participating in sports they love. Peaslee remains committed to juggling marriage, motherhood and work with finesse, humor and games of horse played in her driveway. If there comes a time when you need some assistance with an academic problem or need some wise direction on which path to take, keep your eyes peeled for a very tall, bespectacled blonde woman; introduce yourself to Deidra Peaslee and be prepared to be inspired.