In This Issue

• Program Updates

• Publications & Presentations

• Academic Socialization Research Project

• Kazakhstan Research Project

• Interview with Trish Iaiennaro 

• Upcoming Conferences

• Job Board 

Program Updates

The Director of EdD, Dr. Lee-Johnson, is the elected Chair for the Graduate Department of Education, where the EdD program is housed. The department is hiring two new faculty positions and is reviewing candidates. Upon serving as Chair, Dr. Lee-Johnson will continue to be the Director of EdD and there has been exciting initiatives to grow the program and the department in numbers and reputation in the coming years. 

For example, there is a new Scholar-in-Residence program that offers one year full-time on-ground plus one year remote study for MA EDIN graduates in Tashkent. This is because of the alignment of the transformative ethos of the MA EDIN and EdD program. The new initiative is expected to bring 20+ international scholars from Tashkent in Fall 2024. Thanks to Dr. Basiyr Rodney and our Tashkent colleagues for working together in this exciting initiative. 

This May 2023 is the program's off-year due to the every even year admission. Three doctoral candidates are walking on May 11 at the School of Education Commencement. Drs Kerri Fair, Jennifer Ono, and Lanetra Thomas. Starting in Fall 2024, the EdD will admit new students every year because of the strong reputation, enrollment numbers, and academic achievements.

Congratulations to our Graduates:

• Dr. Kerri Lynn Fair, Lecturer at Washington University in St Louis

Dissertation Title: Stories Most Difficult to Tell are the Most Vital to Share:  A Phenomenographic Investigation of Teacher Burnout Theories and Narratives

• Dr. Jennifer Mae Ono, Fourth Grade Teacher at Kirkwood Schools

Dissertation Title: Radical Transformation of the Power-Language Dynamic in the K-6 classroom: A Mixed-Method Study of Elementary School Teachers in the USA

• Dr. Lanetra A. Thomas, Principal, Hazelwood Schools

Dissertation Title: Leading and Learning: An Investigation of Principals’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

EdD Commencement Speech by Dr. Kerri Fair

Publications

• Tamara Rodney is one of the co-editors for a book on Creativity in a Palgrave book series. 

• The EdD program has an accepted article proposal in the CPED Journal's Special Issue on Alternative Dissertation.

• Tamara Rodney and Jennifer Ono are co-authoring a book review article.

• The EdD program has an accepted book chapter that is currently in press. 

Presentations

• Lee-Johnson, Y.L. (2024). Panelist on The Art of Mentoring. AERA REAPA SIG Business Meeting. Philadelphia, PA, April 11-14. 

• Lee-Johnson, Y.L., Fair, K., Rodney, T., Ono, J. (2024). Interweaving Intersectional Biographical Vignettes into Qualitative Research as Reflexivity Tools. [Peer-reviewed Workshop]. AERA 2024 Annual Convention. Philadelphia, PA. April 11-14.

• Lee-Johnson, Y.L. (2024). Disrupting the Educational Malpractice and Advocating for Racial Justices for Emergent Bilingual and Multilingual Learners. In Reyes, J., Lee-Johnson, Y.L., Yu, G., Fyfe, B. (2024). Confronting the Raciolinguistic Injustices Recycled in Early Childhood Spaces: Advocating with a Feminist-Abolitionist Approach. [Peer-reviewed Symposium]. AERA 2024 Annual Convention. Philadelphia, PA. April 11-14.

Would you share with us your research and DDP topic?

"My research revolves around a critical issue within educational administration: the effectiveness of administrative strategies in empowering high school students from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The overarching goal is to not only improve their academic outcomes but also enhance their sense of belonging and broaden their educational opportunities within their academic environments.

Title of My DDP: “Examining the Effectiveness of Administrative Strategies for Empowering High School Students with Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds.”

Research Problem: The core of my research problem is to critically analyze how high school administrators can implement strategies that effectively support and empower students from various ethnic backgrounds. This involves looking into various aspects such as curricular decisions, staff training, policy implementation, and community engagement to understand their impact on student empowerment."

How has the EdD program transformed your educational philosophy?

"Pursuing my EdD has been a transformative experience that has profoundly influenced my educational philosophy. The program has deepened my understanding of educational theories and practices, particularly in leadership and systemic change. It has encouraged me to reflect critically on my teaching methods and to embrace more innovative and effective approaches to education. This reflection has led me to integrate new technologies and advanced pedagogical strategies into my classroom. In reality, this program has fully reinforced the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy, which is crucial given the diverse backgrounds of my students. It has helped me shape a more inclusive and effective educational environment where all students can feel valued and empowered."

Upcoming Conferences

Job Board

Administrative Positions

Faculty Positions

 K-12 Leadership Positions

Contact Us

Feel free to reach out to Dr. Lee-Johnson, Director of the Ed.D. program, or Queenie Sawyerr, Research Assistant, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Ed.D. Director: Dr. Yin Lam Lee-Johnson

Webster University Ed.D. Director - Webster Groves Campus

314-246-7643

yleejohnson31@webster.edu 

Executive Editor of the Ed.D. Newsletter: Queenie Sawyerr

EdD Research Assistant - Webster Groves Campus

314-246-7093

queeniesawyerr64@webster.edu