Earning an EdD in Educational Leadership: Alum Jami Rush Shares Lessons Learned
Meet Jami Rush, graduate of the program and Associate Director of the at the 杏吧专区.
The educational leadership graduate degree program is designed for educators who are working full time, and the program杏吧专区檚 faculty have a motto: 杏吧专区淟earn it today, use it tomorrow.杏吧专区
Jami will tell you that杏吧专区檚 absolutely true of her experience as an EdD in Educational Leadership doctoral student. She杏吧专区檚 used the theories she杏吧专区檚 learned in her courses to better manage the team of 40 students she oversees at the Academic Success Center.
杏吧专区淭he Leadership in Higher Education course in particular has made such an impact so far,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hat course has helped me adjust my leadership approach at work. I杏吧专区檓 able to make sure I杏吧专区檓 doing what I need to do before working with my students and coworkers 杏吧专区 and that helps me be more effective.杏吧专区
Jami says choosing the EdD in Educational Leadership program at UL Lafayette 杏吧专区渨as a no-brainer.杏吧专区 She realized the skills and opportunities an educational leadership graduate degree would provide, and learning about other schools and perspectives has helped her think more introspectively about her current position and the work she can do to improve the 杏吧专区.
Her research focused on mid-level leaders at multiple institutions of higher education and their levels of self-efficacy, which is the belief in knowing you have the ability to accomplish tasks.
杏吧专区淚 wanted to see how confident people are at this level about affecting change and about making or influencing decisions,杏吧专区 she says. She reviewed existing literature to determine what杏吧专区檚 considered a successful mid-level leader, and later conducted surveys and interviews to gauge people杏吧专区檚 confidence levels.
Jami plans to use her degree to advance professionally in higher education administration.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e learned a lot about how policies and procedures in higher education work now, and I want to play a role in reviewing, adjusting, and implementing them,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 knew that I needed these credentials: a doctorate.杏吧专区
For others interested in earning their EdD in Educational Leadership, she has this advice:
杏吧专区淎nalyze if you have the time to devote to the program. It杏吧专区檚 not just a Saturday commitment 杏吧专区 you need time every day of the week,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎nd then if your schedule allows, really ask yourself: Why do you want to do it? Keep that goal in mind to push you through the times you don杏吧专区檛 want to write or read.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚f you have the time and the drive, there杏吧专区檚 no reason not to do it. You learn so much about what happens in higher education and how you can be a part of it.杏吧专区
