Founding Leadership Cohort Graduates

Feature Story

Founding Leadership Cohort Graduates

Ed.D. Organizational Leadership graduates reflect on experience.

by Daniel J. Douglas Ed.D. '19

Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership graduates
Graduates of the first cohort of the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program.  | Photo by Vern Ogronek

 

While the University celebrated its 50th year since its founding in 1969 at a Board of Trustees meeting in February, students in the founding cohort of the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program could be found holed up at home or in the library, trying to finish their dissertations.

On May 7, the founding cohort became the first graduating class of the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program.

Recent graduate Kristina Santoro said the program offered several benefits including 鈥渓earning more about myself, collaborating with my cohort members across disciplines, and learning from excellent professors and interesting guest lecturers.鈥 While Daniel Fidalgo Tom茅, director of Service-Learning at Stockton, described the program as 鈥渁ccessible, affordable, convenient.鈥

Ed.D. graduates
Ed.D. graduates, from left to right: John Froonjian, Kate Spalding Juliani,  Daniel Fidalgo Tom茅,  Charlotte Phillip-Clarke and Jeannine Ingenito at Stockton's Doctoral & Master's Commencement on May 7, 2019. | Photo by Meaghan Haugh Resta

Based in the Academic Center at the new 快猫成版视频 Atlantic City, the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program was approved by the Stockton Board of Trustees in 2015 and welcomed the founding cohort in January 2016. School of Education faculty members including George Sharp, instructor of Educational Leadership; and Joseph Marchetti, professor emeritus of Education, developed the innovative doctorate of education program in consultation with faculty colleagues and an advisory group.

Nicole NelsonSgt. Nicole Nelson of the Hamilton Township Police Department.  | Submitted photo

The program鈥檚 interdisciplinary focus embraces Stockton鈥檚 founding value. Most education doctorates are designed for P-12 teachers and administrators. The Stockton doctorate is designed for individuals from any organization.

Sgt. Nicole Nelson of the Hamilton Township Police Department (pictured right) enrolled in the program because she 鈥渓iked the fact that it was an interdisciplinary face-to-face program.鈥

 The Stockton doctorate is diverse in its student body and the organizations they represent. Represented organizations range from business, education and faith-based organizations to government and military, health care networks and agencies, and non-profit organizations.

鈥淪tockton has a culture of embracing diversity and I believe the program exemplifies that belief,鈥 explained Jeannine Holt Ingenito, learning disabilities teacher consultant.  

 AT A GLANCE

  • 95  students in 4 cohorts with cohorts starting each fall.
  • Students from 16 of 21 counties and three states.
  • 98.4% of students will recommend the program to others.

 

Kathryn SukKathryn Suk, assistant professor of Education at Raritan Valley Community College.  | Submitted photo

That鈥檚 what attracted Brian McBride, superintendent of schools at Palmyra Public Schools, to what he called a 鈥渂rand new program seeking a diverse population of leaders who were willing to take a risk to evaluate their existing beliefs, values and mindsets in a way that would transform their understanding of leadership.鈥 

Classes are taught by Stockton faculty, practitioners and leaders from various organizations.

Nelson said the faculty were 鈥渙utstanding鈥 and 鈥渂ecame a second family.鈥

 鈥淭hey were always open, honest, and gave so much of their time and effort to help me achieve my goals,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey exemplify the meaning of true leadership, and I know that I have made not only mentors but friends for life.鈥

The program is designed to prepare leaders to lead in changing work environments.

Karl Giulian, assistant professor at Atlantic Cape Community College, chose the program because it 鈥渨ould give me the knowledge and credibility to influence change in my various organizations.鈥

Robert HeinrichRobert R. Heinrich, chief enrollment management officer at 快猫成版视频.  | Submitted photo

Kathryn Suk, assistant professor of Education at Raritan Valley Community College, recommends this program, 鈥渂ecause it is designed with the practitioner in mind; it allows for the workplace to become a laboratory to test hypotheses and principles of leadership.鈥

Robert R. Heinrich, Stockton鈥檚 chief enrollment management officer, said the time commitment was 鈥渧ery manageable.鈥

鈥淚 was able to apply many of the principles in my environment and I grew professionally as a result of participating in the program,鈥 Heinrich explained.

John Froonjian, interim executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton, said he, 鈥渓earned to work better with diverse teams, expanded my thinking in a creative direction, grew in vertical leadership, and began to think more strategically.鈥

View more Commencement coverage.

 

Learn more about Stockton's Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership.