EdD Dissertations

Candidates of The Doctor of Education in Leadership Program concludes with students writing, defending, and publishing their dissertation. The dissertations published by our candidates are as diverse as our candidates and can be located using Proquest. Some sample dissertation titles include:

• Recruiting Amidst Crisis: Exploring Police Recruit Motivations in A Post-Ferguson Era
• Building Principal Self-Efficacy through the Lens of Principal Preparation Programs and Principal Leadership Professional Development Experiences
• The Impact of Secondary Coursework on the Post-Secondary Academic Performance of First-Year Nursing Students
• Effective Strategies for Teaching Intercultural Communicative Competence: A Case Study

Dissertations by Graduating Classes

Spring 2023

• Middleton, Kylon Jerome – Locus of Control and Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Doctoral Students in A Doctoral of Education In Leadership Program: A Correlational Design 
• Price-Worley, Kori – A Phenomenological Study Of What Motivation Factors Contribute To The Lived Experiences Of Black Male Teachers In South Carolina 
• Champagne, Kimberly – “Using Leader-Member Exchange Theory as A Predictor of Master Sergeants’ Positive Work Outcomes and a Tool For How Air Force Leaders Can Develop Their Teams”
• Heyward-King, Charletha – The Impact of Out-Of-School Suspension on The Academic Achievement of African American Middle School Male Students
• Ravenel, Tiffany – Examining the Relationship Between School Counselors’ Trust in Their Principal and Counselors’ Actions of Advocacy 
• Smith, Vodra – Novice Teachers Perceptions of a Mentorship Program And Its Perceived Effectiveness On Novice Teachers in A High Poverty School
• Whitten, Nashayla – A Comparison of Third- Grade Reading Strategies In High- Performing And Low-Performing Title-One Schools
• Jablonski, Elizabeth – Investigation of A Motherhood Bias: An Examination of Hiring Perceptions 
• Wright, DaQurta – With an S On My Chest: A Phenomenological Study On African American Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics) Technology
• Delice, Gilbertha Sandee – Elementary School General Education Teachers’ Perceptions On Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Inclusive Classroom
• Middleton, Patricia – Examining the Relationship Between Teacher Retention and Teachers’ Perception of Schools’ Learning, Social and Physical Environment Along the I-95 Corridor of Shame
• Thompson, Jeffery Scott – An Analysis of The Relationship Between Procedural Due Process Rights and Public-School Principals’ Perceptions of The Evaluation Tools Used to Assess Their Job Performances
• Kemp Woodward, Virginia – Science of Reading Professional Development: A Quantitative Study in Two Rural First Grades
• Maningding, Debra Jones – A Correlational Study: Teachers’ Self-Efficacy in Generalized Teaching And Literacy Instruction 
• Brown, Susan – School Counselors’ Perspective on Student Disparities in Dual Enrollment Programs
• Fleck, David – Exploring the Perceptions of Church Leaders in Their Attempt to Increase Baptisms and Attendance 
• Green, Maygan – Gullah. Geechee. Educated: A Case Study On Teachers’ Perception Of Culturally Responsive Teaching 
• Ray, Melissa – Testing the Test: A Correlational Study on Algebra 1 End-of-Course Exams, Federal Legislation, and Beginning Algebra Courses
• Freeman, Jimmy – Equitable Representation of African American Students in Gifted And Talented Programs In A South Carolina School District
• Shaw, Tina – Parent Involvement and School Readiness: The Benefits and Barriers for Rural, Title One Families 

Fall 2022

• Arnold, Karen – Examining Academic Success Factors and Grit in Baccalaureate Nursing Students
• Asby, Jennifer – Culturally Relevant Teaching: Moving Beyond Perfunctory Understanding
• Clemmons, Melissa – Exploring the Formative Role of Discipleship in the Lives of Faith Integrators 
• Jones, Shannon – Dream Deferred, Denied, Delayed, or Supported: An Examining the Lived Experiences of Black Academic Library Directors 
• Kharod, Vikram Bhanu – Experiences of Overseas Trained Teachers in the U.S.
• Kinlaw, Isreal Suprano – Learning in Spite of the Struggles: Perceptions of African American Males’ Academic Success in a Rural School
• Mitchell, Sophia Ladson – Restorative Practices’ Impact on School Climate: Teacher Perceptions and Experiences in an Alternative School Setting
• Smith, Senfronia – A Comparison of Student Achievement for Females in Single-Gender Learning Environments and Mixed-Gender Learning Environments  
• Walker, Carson – Teacher Readiness and Principal Support During Implementation Phase of Pedagogical Change
• Zerbst, Kimberly – Validating History Competencies for Use in AP Classrooms: A Quantitative Approach  
• Dyer, Anna – Orthodoxy Alignment and Faith Integration Pedagogies of Secondary Christian Educators
• Cappello, Susan – A Quantitative Study on the Correlation Between Homework and Parent-Child Relationships 
• Dates, Danielle – Indicators Impacting Out-Of-School Suspension and Graduation Rates for African American Students After Implementing a Progressive Discipline Plan
• Goughnour, Shelly – Perceptions of Elementary Arts Teachers on Fostering Social and Emotional Learning Through Arts Curriculum 
• Monterisi, Frank, Jr. – Procrastination in Online Math Classes: An Analysis of Active and Passive Procrastinators at a Two-Year College   
• Shealy, Todd – Women Cadet Officers: Their Experiences and Leadership at Military College  
• Stewart, Karen E. – Executive Presence: African American Female Executives’ Leadership Experiences During America’s Racial Awakening and COVID-19
• Bootle, Sarah – Professional Firefighter Retention in South Carolina
• Logan, Jennifer – Teaching Global Competency? An Evaluation of Course Learning Outcomes Across Disparate American Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs  
• Ryan, Michael – The Perceived Benefits by Sports Medicine Clinicians When Using Return to Sports Protocols 

Previous Cohorts