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 小蝌蚪APP.
The educational leadership graduate degree program is designed for educators who are working full time, and the program小蝌蚪APP檚 faculty have a motto: 小蝌蚪APP淟earn it today, use it tomorrow.小蝌蚪APP
Jami will tell you that小蝌蚪APP檚 absolutely true of her experience as an EdD in Educational Leadership doctoral student. She小蝌蚪APP檚 used the theories she小蝌蚪APP檚 learned in her courses to better manage the team of 40 students she oversees at the Academic Success Center.
小蝌蚪APP淭he Leadership in Higher Education course in particular has made such an impact so far,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hat course has helped me adjust my leadership approach at work. I小蝌蚪APP檓 able to make sure I小蝌蚪APP檓 doing what I need to do before working with my students and coworkers 小蝌蚪APP and that helps me be more effective.小蝌蚪APP
Jami says choosing the EdD in Educational Leadership program at UL Lafayette 小蝌蚪APP渨as a no-brainer.小蝌蚪APP 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 小蝌蚪APP.
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.
小蝌蚪APP淚 wanted to see how confident people are at this level about affecting change and about making or influencing decisions,小蝌蚪APP she says. She reviewed existing literature to determine what小蝌蚪APP檚 considered a successful mid-level leader, and later conducted surveys and interviews to gauge people小蝌蚪APP檚 confidence levels.
Jami plans to use her degree to advance professionally in higher education administration.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 knew that I needed these credentials: a doctorate.小蝌蚪APP
For others interested in earning their EdD in Educational Leadership, she has this advice:
小蝌蚪APP淎nalyze if you have the time to devote to the program. It小蝌蚪APP檚 not just a Saturday commitment 小蝌蚪APP you need time every day of the week,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檛 want to write or read.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淚f you have the time and the drive, there小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
