Building upon the success of the post-master’s Au.D. Program in the United States, Freeman was invited to give a presentation at the British Academy of Audiology national meeting about professional doctoral education.
After the presentation, the leadership of the British Academy of Audiology invited Freeman to a meeting to discuss a new Doctor of Audiology degree program based in the United Kingdom. The meeting was joined by Packer-Muti and Anthony DeNapoli, Ed.D., executive director of the Office of International Affairs. Packer-Muti and DeNapoli designed a curriculum similar to the post-master’s Au.D. Program in the United States.
The United Kingdom students heard the news and were adamant that the program include live instruction and teaching by U.S.-based audiologists. Arrangements were made to offer the program in London for practicing audiologists beginning in 2002. NSU rented space at a local university, and instructors flew to London to offer the coursework live over a long weekend. The courses and coursework were designed for the working professional. By the program’s second year, 14 students were enrolled.
The first post-master’s Au.D. class defied the many hurricanes in 2004 and traveled to the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus from England, Ireland, and Malta to walk at graduation. Since its inception, the program has taught students from Denmark, England, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Jordan, Malta, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.