Q: What led you to want to earn a doctorate degree?
A: I decided to pursue a doctoral degree because this I knew this program would position me to research topics like anti-racism by providing me with the knowledge, skills, and resources to critically examine the impact of systemic racism in education and society. This doctoral program has prepared me conduct original research, engage with diverse perspectives and methodologies, and produce significant findings that can inform the understanding of anti-racism and social justice issues within the field of educational leadership.
Q: What phase of the program are you in?
A: Dissertation.
Q: What are your current research interests/projects/grants?
A: My research project is a qualitative case study that explores how faculty members in an educational leadership program in North Carolina self-examine and reflect on how their course content aligns with anti-racist leadership design. The study aims to understand how faculty navigate challenges and barriers to creating and sustaining a program that reflects anti-racist leadership. The project is guided by two research questions: (1) how do faculty reflect on how their course content aligns with anti-racist leadership design, and (2) how do they navigate challenges to creating or sustaining an anti-racist leadership program?
Q: What is your current job title and location?
A: Clinical Faculty/Cohort Director for the NELA Principal Preparation Program at NC State University.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Appalachian State University?
A: I appreciate that the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership has prepared me to make a difference. The doctoral program is committed to social justice and equity in education. This commitment supported how I approached my research interests and project. The experienced faculty are supportive, caring, and open to ongoing feedback on how to continuously improve the program. The faculty are accessible and bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to both their instruction and the overall programming.
Q: What’s your favorite quote?
A: My two favorite quotes go hand in hand: 1) "You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you" by Brian Tracy and 2) "The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there" by John Buchan. Simply put everything we need is within us but sometimes we need help or need to help someone else realize that greatness is already there waiting to be unleashed!
