Arkansas State University - Ed.D. Educational Leadership Program

08/12/2026

From Arkansas to Seoul! ✈️🇰🇷
Last month, our program director, Dr. Cunningham, presented at the International Meeting of the Psychometric Society at Yonsei University in Seoul, Republic of Korea. 🎓🌏 Dr. Cunningham and colleagues shared their research, "Beyond Magnitude: The Conditional Role of Cross-Loading Proportion in Factor Retention." 🐺

08/10/2026

Congrats to one of our recent graduates!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Hq94srsLD/

As we prepare to welcome students and staff back for the first day of school on August 10, we are equally excited about the leaders who will be supporting them throughout the year.

That includes Dr. Lynette Hampton, our new Director of School Performance, who will work alongside K-8 and middle school leaders across Caddo.

An award-winning educator and proven school leader, Dr. Hampton has spent years serving Caddo students, staff and families. She has led both North Highlands Elementary and Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle and was previously recognized as Caddo’s Elementary Principal of the Year.

In her role as Director of School Performance, she will bring that experience to schools across the district, partnering with principals and their teams to strengthen instruction, address barriers and ensure schools have the support they need to help students succeed.

We are proud to have Dr. Hampton taking on this important role and excited about the leadership and experience she brings to the schools she will serve.

Congratulations, Dr. Hampton!

08/03/2026

Dr. Alisa Taylor successfully defended her dissertation research study, “Rewards-based motivation strategies for general and special education teachers who teach students with autism K-6,” with her dissertation committee members Chair Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane and Dr. Lori Sanchez. Congratulations Dr. Taylor!

07/28/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Emily Johnson for successfully defending her dissertation study in the Educational Leadership doctoral program! Her study titled, “Workplace aggression among classroom teachers (K-12) and its impact on teacher retention,” explored perspectives among educators. She was celebrated by her dissertation committee members: Chair Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane, Mentor Dr. Randy Caffey, members Drs. Alicia Shaw and Tracy Miller. Congratulations Dr. Johnson!

07/20/2026

Congrats to Emily Danger, one of our EdD Educational Leadership Higher Education candidates on back to back presentations with American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers conference this week!

07/02/2026

Dr. Aaron Blake Campbell successfully defended his doctoral educational leadership program dissertation, “A case study on the relationship between chronic absenteeism and students’ academic, social, and behavioral success," with dissertation committee members: Chair Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane, mentor Dr. David Stevens, and member Dr. Lynn Cooper. Congratulations Dr. Campbell!

06/22/2026

Arianne Pait will defend her dissertation June 24, 2026 at 2:30 CST. Her defense title is STOPPING OUT AT ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY: AN EXPLORATORY CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS EXITING DURING THE JUNIOR YEAR OR BEYOND. It will be viewed with Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/280812888123928?p=yjfiMQVIp1OQLWBT25

Meeting ID: 280 812 888 123 928

Passcode: WW2Ws6VG

Please remember to mute your mic so as to not disturb her defense.Arianne Pait will defend her dissertation June 24, 2026 at 2:30 CST.

06/19/2026

Rachel Mauchline will defend her EdD dissertation entitled: BEHIND THE BALLOT: JUDGING PRACTICES IN HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITIVE SPEECH AND DEBATE June 22nd at 1PM CST. It will be via Teams and the link is: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/240802978480118?p=NfzhQsb6JnbtT6Ix0X

Meeting ID: 240 802 978 480 118
Passcode: Fr2Ky32m
Please be sure to mute your microphone so you do not distract her.

Send a message to learn more

06/18/2026

Dr. David Needham successfully defended his doctoral dissertation research study, "Instrumental music education's impact on student motivation, academic performance, and school attendance in secondary education in a post-Covid world," with his dissertation committee members: Chair Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane, Dr. Ella Benson, and Dr. Robert Williams. Congratulations Dr. Needham!

06/17/2026

Dr. Cilia Smith successfully defended her doctoral dissertation research study, “Electing or appointing Alabama superintendents: The impact of superintendent selection models on student achievement” with her dissertation committee members: Chair Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane, Dr. Jodi Elder, and Dr. Michael Wesolek. Congratulations Dr. Smith!