Unfinished Business: Alexandria’s Tim Dickson Completes a Degree Decades in the Making

A Long-Awaited Return to the Classroom

Alexandria, VA — “It’s never too late to learn, and staying curious is an important ingredient in one’s life, like oxygen. Curiosity imparts a certain humility. If you’re curious, it means you know you don’t have all the answers, and you need to engage with others to find them.” — Tim Dickson

When Tim Dickson was in his early twenties, he faced a difficult choice: finish college or accept the job he ultimately hoped his degree would lead to.

Dickson chose the job.

He reasoned that the University of Iowa would always be there, but the opportunity might not be.

Talented in the world of politics, one campaign quickly turned into another, then another, and before long Dickson found himself building a successful consulting career and company.

“I took the job thinking I’d come back after the election,” Dickson recalled. “That thought process took hold during the 1984 election when I was executive director of the state party during Congressman Tom Harkin’s first race for the U.S. Senate. Then I got an offer to work in the western United States as a regional political director for the DNC.”

“Each time I thought I’d come back, and each time I was lucky enough to get a new opportunity. That timeline slipped as I met the love of my life, got ourselves a mortgage, raised three boys, and life kept getting in the way of the degree. Finishing was never far from my mind, but life sometimes has other plans. I always thought of it as unfinished business.”

Finishing What He Started

While Dickson still works on consulting projects through his company, he has intentionally begun creating more space in his life for personal goals outside of work.

“A little over a year ago, on a whim, I called the University of Iowa registrar and asked about my transcript and what I needed to do to finish,” he said. “They told me all my credits were still good, and I could complete all my remaining requirements online.”

That flexibility changed everything.

The ability to study remotely and move at his own pace made completing his degree realistic in a way it had never been before.

“I absolutely would encourage others to consider online education,” Dickson said. “I’ve heard from many friends around the country with similar stories, and I’ve told them how rewarding it’s been. It’s good for the soul.”

“I managed roughly two classes per semester and an independent study, so the cost wasn’t the same as full-time enrollment, either.”

Dickson laughed as he compared the experience to a memorable scene from The Wizard of Oz.

“I kind of feel like the Scarecrow, where the Wizard essentially says, ‘You don’t need a brain — you need a diploma that says you have a brain.’”

“I do have a sense of relief that now I can put ‘B.A., Political Science and Religious Studies’ instead of ‘attended’ on a bio or résumé.”

Still, the degree itself was only part of the reward.

“I’m not quite sure what’s next,” he admitted. “But taking classes again, once I got back into the rhythm, was deeply enjoyable.”

A Family Rooted in Alexandria

Tim and his wife, Albie Dickson, have called Alexandria home since 2001, after moving from Arlington while raising their growing family.

“We love it here,” Dickson said. “It’s such a welcoming community. Our boys attended Alexandria City High School, and our neighbors and friends here are terrific.”

“There’s an intimacy to Alexandria that isn’t replicated in sprawling suburbs. You always have a sense of place here. In many ways, it reminds me of my hometown of Iowa City.”

Albie Dickson has also become a well-known force within the Alexandria community through her work with the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Alexandria City High School students access and afford higher education through scholarships, advising, and year-round college and career support.

In April, the organization hosted a gala attended by more than 450 guests and raised a record-breaking $600,000.

A Community That Encourages Growth

Dickson says the Alexandria community played an important role in supporting his return to school.

“I did tell friends after I revealed my intention, and they were incredibly supportive — and understanding when I’d say, ‘I’ve got a big exam tomorrow, so I need to call it a night,’” he said.

“I’ve had my business here since 1997, so there’s something about Alexandria that sticks. It’s been a great place to operate a consulting shop, and now I know it’s also a great place to study.”

Dickson even found himself occasionally retreating to ALX Community for focused study sessions.

“It was like the nicest dorm study lounge I’ve ever been in,” he joked.

Lessons Learned Later in Life

In the end, Dickson says the experience became about much more than earning a diploma.

When he committed to finishing his degree, he underestimated just how rewarding the process itself would become — and how differently he would view education decades later.

“When I was there, I didn’t fully realize I was surrounded by giants,” he reflected, referencing legendary University of Iowa figures such as former President Willard Boyd and renowned track and field coach Francis X. Cretzmeyer.

“It’s a lesson in presence — in recognizing the extraordinary people you may already be surrounded by.”

For Dickson, earning the degree closed a chapter that had remained open for more than four decades. Yet the accomplishment also served as a reminder that growth does not have an expiration date.

Sometimes the most meaningful journeys are not about starting something new, but finally finishing what you began.