The 91Ö±²¥ Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership is proud to recognize 10 newly minted doctoral alumni who defended dissertations in summer and were conferred their doctoral degree in August 2025.  With their completion, the total number of alumni to more than 220 scholars/practitioners across the region and beyond. Our doctoral graduates investigate problems of practice affecting leaders across various educational contexts.  Dissertation research is a stamina test, no matter when it’s undertaken. For these doctoral alumni, they were "running the course" during turbulent times and conducting  important and timely topics. View their defense blogs and the slideshow of graduates for an overview of their Valiant doctoral research! 

Click on the links to learn more about their dissertations.

Dr. Terry Jerome Dade, Dissertation Completion Pathway Cohort 4
"FOSTERING COLLECTIVE TEACHER EFFICACY IN HIGH-POVERTY, HIGH-ACHIEVEMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS"

Dr. Sergio Davila, Signature Pathway Cohort 13
"QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS REGENTS REQUIREMENT FOR NEWCOMER HISPANICS TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL"

Dr. Georgianna Diopoulos-Grogan, Dissertation Completion Pathway Cohort 4
"THE IMPACT OF INSTRUCTIONAL PERIOD LENGTH ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FOR SEVENTH- AND EIGHTH-GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STUDENTS"

Dr. Jude Fleurismond, Dissertation Completion Pathway Delta Cohort
"LOW TRANSFER RATES OF ADULT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO 4-YEAR COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES"

Dr. Aaron S. Hanlin, Dissertation Completion Pathway Cohort 3
"STUDENT-FACULTY ENGAGEMENT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES: A QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF HONORS AND NON-HONORS FACULTY"

Dr. Denise Kimberlynn Harper-Richardson, Dissertation Completion Pathway Cohort 2
"ADVISORY AND THE MATRIX: POWER, CONNECTEDNESS, AND BLACK GIRLHOOD"

Dr. Cori Ann Boss Jackson, Signature Pathway Cohort 13
"AN INTERPRETIVE QUALITATIVE STUDY: ROLE OF TEACHER AUTONOMY AND PERCEIVED COMPETENCE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PREPACKAGED LITERACY CURRICULUM"

Dr. Teresa Carmela Letizia, Signature Pathway Cohort 14
"QUALITATIVE STUDY OF TEACHERS’ USE OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: AN ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ANALYSIS"

Dr. Kayla Miranda Morales, Signature Pathway Cohort 14
"THE INFLUENCES OF REACTIONARY FORCES AND OPPOSITIONS TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) ON SUBURBAN MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS AND SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOMS"

Dr. Melissa E. Solis, Higher Education Pathway Cohort 5
"A STEM PREPARATION PROGRAM: EXPECTANCY BELIEFS, PERCEIVED VALUES, AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS OF BLACK AND HISPANIC UNDERGRADUATES"

Watch our Graduate Slideshow..

Take Your Career to the Next Level

Elevate your leadership skills, deepen your understanding of critical and contemporary education issues, and learn to help solve the current challenges in P-20 education.  

Learn to Inspire Change

The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership from 91Ö±²¥, offered in partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, utilizes a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership that is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders in any educational context. It is designed to support the goals of educational professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills for career advancement or current job enhancement.   

Learn More About the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership