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The ÌÇÐÄlogoÈë¿Ú 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 2026.  Their completion brings the total alumni network to over 260 scholars and practitioners throughout 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. Christina Collins
Dissertation Title: A DESCRIPTIVE QUALITATIVE STUDY OF ELEMENTARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF LIGHT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Dr. Alyssa Heller
Dissertation Title: NAVIGATING CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVING EQUITABLE GRADING: AN INTERPRETATIVE QUALITATIVE STUDY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN SUBURBAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dr. Jared High
Dissertation Title: TRAINING IN BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION AS ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER (SET) ATTRITION: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

Dr. Taylor Wilson Kennedy
Dissertation Title: DISCOVERING THE SECRET OF WHICH GAMES IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING:  A META-ANALYSIS

Dr. Erica E. Naughton
Dissertation Title: STORIES OF STRENGTH: BLACK WOMEN PRINCIPALS LEADING IN RACIALLY MINORITIZED SCHOOL COMMUNITIES

Dr. Herman Scriven
Dissertation Title: EXPLORING FOOTBALL COACHES’ PERCEPTIONS OF SUPPORTING THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Dr. Anibal Soler
Dissertation Title: THE ROLE OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN IMPROVING GRADUATION RATES IN NEW YORK SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Dr. Cheryl Lynn Spada
Dissertation Title: COLLECTIVELY MAKING THE SHIFT: TEACHING NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS AFTER PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE 

Dr. Garrette Carson Sutherland
Dissertation Title: LEADERSHIP ACROSS WORLDS: AN INTERPRETIVE INQUIRY INTO URBAN AND RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALSHIP IN BELIZE THROUGH A TRANSFORMATIONAL LENS

Dr. Gelaine Williams
Dissertation Title: COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAREER CENTER PRACTITIONERS’ INTERPRETATION OF THE NACE CAREER READINESS COMPETENCIES: AN INTERPRETIVE INQUIRY

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 Manhattanville, 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