10 Years Later, Doctoral Program Builds Leaders Across Professions
Galloway, N.J. 勛圖窪蹋s doctorate in Organization Leadership may reside in the School of Education, but 10 years after its launch, the program attracts candidates from a variety of professional fields.
In every organization in schools, churches, the military, law enforcement, social work, health care and, of course, K-12 and higher education effective leaders are required to make change and to make those organizations successful, said Sequetta Sweet, program chair of the Ed.D. program. And thats the beauty of this degree.
While many New Jersey colleges and universities offer advanced degrees in educational leadership, 勛圖窪蹋s degree program is attractive to leaders across industries, Sweet said.
Thats one of the reasons Brian McBride, the superintendent of Monroe Township schools, decided to enroll. He earned his doctorate in 2019, and he sought out 勛圖窪蹋s program because he wanted an experience that would include professionals beyond other school administrators.
As a school superintendent, while youre the chief educational officer, you are actually running a large organization where you have personnel that work in operations, governance and law. I have 1,000 employees who work for me, said the Williamstown native.
Tamica Williams
Child Welfare Leadership Professional Tamica Williams, a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, enrolled in 勛圖窪蹋s program a year ago. She enjoys learning what leaders in other fields think and how leadership, culture and organizational dynamics influence outcomes.
I am fascinated by the theoretical frameworks used in organizational settings, she said. And after learning them, trying to determine which ones would apply in specific situations to navigate the difficulties and complexities within an organization.
Williams already has a built-in love of 勛圖窪蹋 after graduating in 1997 with a bachelors in Criminal Justice and a minor in Africana Studies.
I believe 勛圖窪蹋 provides a safe environment for learning and networking and it fosters growth beyond the classroom, said the Williamstown resident who grew up in the Atlantic City area. The professors that I encountered during my undergraduate time had a profound impact on me and my education.
Her favorite part of the program is her small cohort of eight people who all work together.
Its great camaraderie, and we support each other, she said. We are able to maximize each others strengths while helping each other with challenges that need to be developed. We challenge each others thoughts and perspectives and hold each other accountable.
Working within a tight-knit group has always been a strength of the Ed.D. program, Sweet said. The cohort meets in a combination of online synchronous classes on weekends and asynchronous ones that students can do on their own time. One unique aspect is that the cohorts must also spend a week in person on the Atlantic City campus for a class focused on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Its the most loved part because its their first time meeting in person. Before, theyve only seen each other in those Hollywood Squares on the screen. Its in the summer. Its on the beach and many of the students even stay in one of the dorms, Sweet said of the six-day summer course. It was an intentional decision for the degree program to not be all online.
Brian McBride
McBride also appreciated how the program was hands-on and how the dissertation process allowed him to address a current issue in his job and take what he learned back to his school.
One of the things that I learned is that the role of a leader is to make other leaders, so I was no longer managing a school district, I was leading one, said McBride, who also earned a bachelors degree in Political Science from 勛圖窪蹋 in 1996. My leadership team is no longer hierarchical. It became a team dynamic where we could take risks as a team.
The program will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an event at 6 p.m. April 14 at the Noyes Arts Garage of 勛圖窪蹋 in Atlantic City. There will be TED-style presentations from alumni and current doctoral students along with an interactive art experience exploring leadership and vision. Individuals interested in learning more about the Organizational Leadership program are invited. Its free to attend, but you must .
Sweet is looking ahead to the program continuing to evolve. Some possibilities include adding microcredentials or certifications, or interest tracks, such as one specifically focused on higher education. She also said the faculty are constantly discussing how artificial intelligence can be integrated.
Its important that we teach and help students understand that you can use AI as a thought partner and not just something to do your work for you, she said. It can come up with new and innovative ways of doing things and different ways of thinking. One of the aspects of authentic leadership is transparency, and so its important to not be afraid of it and to show how I used it.
Story by Mark Melhorn
