First Doctoral Students Graduate from Rowan University
First Doctoral Students Graduate from Rowan University
May 10, 2001
Four members of the first cohort of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership will participate in commencement exercises at Rowan University on Friday, May 11, at 10 a.m. on the University Green.
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, the first doctoral program in the state college/university system, was created specifically for educational professionals employed in a K-12 or higher education setting and focuses on leadership and change in educational settings. The program emphasizes developing leaders and prepares students to assume leadership roles in schools, colleges, universities, educational associations and educational advocacy groups. The program is committed to a cohort approach, with each new group of matriculated students proceeding through the program together, an approach that fosters a spirit of community and provides a peer support network. The first 15 students began the program in 1997. Presently, there are 39 students, including the graduates, enrolled in three cohorts in the doctoral program. (NOTE: while the first cohort has completed its course work, some members are working on their dissertations.)
The graduates are:
LaNetta Hammill, of Cape May Court House, is assistant principal for Middle Township Elementary School #1 and has worked for several other districts in South Jersey. She earned a B.A. in music and an M.A. in school information services from Rowan University. Hammill?s dissertation was on <+>Influences of Leadership Theory and Change Process during the Implementation of a Social Skills Program.<+>
<+>I believe that I had an understanding of leadership and change before I went into the program, but I didn?t know how to (express) it well,<+> she said of entering the doctoral program. At the time, she thought she might like to become a professor or consultant, which she still may consider in the future.
Cindy Marconi-Hickman, of Minotola, is an adjunct professor at Rowan (leadership studies concentration, which she helped design and create as part of her dissertation) and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (sociology). She holds a B.A. in sociology from Kean University and an M.A. in sociology from Rutgers University. Marconi-Hickman?s dissertation topic was <+>Leading Change: The Evolution of the Design and Development of an Undergraduate Leadership Studies Program at Rowan University.<+>
<+>A doctorate opens my doors to many things,<+> said Marconi-Hickman, who was the first student to defend her dissertation. <+>Rowan is a great institution. It?s growing. It has a lot of promising visions.<+> Marconi-Hickman said she plans to stay in higher education either as a faculty member or administrator.
Lynn Matthews, of Mt. Laurel, assistant principal at Moorestown High School, has taught 25 years in the Moorestown district and before that taught in three other districts. She earned a B.A. and an M.A. in business education from Montclair State University and took certification courses to be a principal and supervisor at The College of New Jersey and Rider University. Matthews, who has been in education her entire career, won The Larry Marcus Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership Doctoral Studies, presented in April by the University. Matthews? dissertation was on <+>A Study of the Visionary Leadership Approach to Change: Moving Organizations Toward Sustained School Improvement.<+>
<+>I liked the concept of the program. It sounded intriguing,<+> she said of the educational leadership offering at Rowan. She plans to pursue a position as a high school principal or teach at the college level.
Kathleen Pearle, of Glenside, PA, is a project researcher for higher education at the Center for the Advancement of Learning at Rowan University. She earned a B.A. in European history at Smith College and an M.A. in European history and French literature from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has served as a history professor at Beaver College and Community College of Philadelphia and also taught in the Rowan History Department for a short time. Pearle wrote her dissertation on <+>Metacognition as a Vehicle for Organizational Change: How ?Thinking about Thinking? and Intentional Learning Break the Mold of ?Heroic? Teaching in Higher Education.<+>
<+>I became interested in issues that extended beyond the classroom, learning issues,<+> Pearle said of enrolling in the Rowan program. She said she liked the flexibility and focus on student and organizational learning the doctoral program offered.
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, the first doctoral program in the state college/university system, was created specifically for educational professionals employed in a K-12 or higher education setting and focuses on leadership and change in educational settings. The program emphasizes developing leaders and prepares students to assume leadership roles in schools, colleges, universities, educational associations and educational advocacy groups. The program is committed to a cohort approach, with each new group of matriculated students proceeding through the program together, an approach that fosters a spirit of community and provides a peer support network. The first 15 students began the program in 1997. Presently, there are 39 students, including the graduates, enrolled in three cohorts in the doctoral program. (NOTE: while the first cohort has completed its course work, some members are working on their dissertations.)
The graduates are:
LaNetta Hammill, of Cape May Court House, is assistant principal for Middle Township Elementary School #1 and has worked for several other districts in South Jersey. She earned a B.A. in music and an M.A. in school information services from Rowan University. Hammill?s dissertation was on <+>Influences of Leadership Theory and Change Process during the Implementation of a Social Skills Program.<+>
<+>I believe that I had an understanding of leadership and change before I went into the program, but I didn?t know how to (express) it well,<+> she said of entering the doctoral program. At the time, she thought she might like to become a professor or consultant, which she still may consider in the future.
Cindy Marconi-Hickman, of Minotola, is an adjunct professor at Rowan (leadership studies concentration, which she helped design and create as part of her dissertation) and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (sociology). She holds a B.A. in sociology from Kean University and an M.A. in sociology from Rutgers University. Marconi-Hickman?s dissertation topic was <+>Leading Change: The Evolution of the Design and Development of an Undergraduate Leadership Studies Program at Rowan University.<+>
<+>A doctorate opens my doors to many things,<+> said Marconi-Hickman, who was the first student to defend her dissertation. <+>Rowan is a great institution. It?s growing. It has a lot of promising visions.<+> Marconi-Hickman said she plans to stay in higher education either as a faculty member or administrator.
Lynn Matthews, of Mt. Laurel, assistant principal at Moorestown High School, has taught 25 years in the Moorestown district and before that taught in three other districts. She earned a B.A. and an M.A. in business education from Montclair State University and took certification courses to be a principal and supervisor at The College of New Jersey and Rider University. Matthews, who has been in education her entire career, won The Larry Marcus Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership Doctoral Studies, presented in April by the University. Matthews? dissertation was on <+>A Study of the Visionary Leadership Approach to Change: Moving Organizations Toward Sustained School Improvement.<+>
<+>I liked the concept of the program. It sounded intriguing,<+> she said of the educational leadership offering at Rowan. She plans to pursue a position as a high school principal or teach at the college level.
Kathleen Pearle, of Glenside, PA, is a project researcher for higher education at the Center for the Advancement of Learning at Rowan University. She earned a B.A. in European history at Smith College and an M.A. in European history and French literature from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has served as a history professor at Beaver College and Community College of Philadelphia and also taught in the Rowan History Department for a short time. Pearle wrote her dissertation on <+>Metacognition as a Vehicle for Organizational Change: How ?Thinking about Thinking? and Intentional Learning Break the Mold of ?Heroic? Teaching in Higher Education.<+>
<+>I became interested in issues that extended beyond the classroom, learning issues,<+> Pearle said of enrolling in the Rowan program. She said she liked the flexibility and focus on student and organizational learning the doctoral program offered.