Shama Grimmage

Dr. Shama L. Grimmage is a teacher and higher education administrator with a true passion for student success and academic excellence. Currently, Dr. Grimmage serves as a University Faculty member at Purdue University Global in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. Since joining Purdue Global in 2020 as a professor of new student orientation, she has taken great pride in guiding students through their transition into academic life and connecting them with vital university resources, while creating a sense of belonging in the online learning environment.

With over a decade of experience in higher education administration, Dr. Grimmage taught freshman seminar courses and served as a freshman advisor, empowering students with the tools they needed to succeed in college and beyond. She is deeply committed to creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment that honors student success, academic persistence, and holistic development. It is driven by her firm conviction that education is the great equalizer in changing lives and opening doors to opportunities.

Dr. Grimmage earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, her M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Florida A&M University, and her B.A. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Pre-Law from the same institution. Her areas of research interest include student success, retention and persistence, diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, as well as the use of AI to create equitable and innovative learning experiences.

Dr. Grimmage’s commitment to an accessible higher education system continues to serve as the impetus for her ever-expanding passion for student advocacy and lifelong learning, as she sifts through myriad possibilities that empower students and educators alike.