Doctorate in Educational Leadership

Ed.D. Program Makes a Positive Impact to CSUSB's Standing and Reputation for Academic Excellence

U.S. News & World Report has listed the university at No. 86 in the nation in the Best Education Schools category of its Best Graduate Schools for 2024. It is the first time the university has been listed in that category. It is the work of CSUSB’s Doctorate in Educational Leadership program that placed the university in U.S. News’ top 100 education schools. The ranking category is designed “for prospective students seeking a doctorate in education,” the magazine says. This national recognition validates our hard work over the past five years, having transformed, restructured, and targeted specific areas of improvement upon the Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership program. We went from unranked to now ranked in the top 20% of schools granting doctoral education degrees nationwide! On behalf of our Ed.D. program leadership team, we share in this achievement and remarkable accomplishment with our program faculty and fellows, our preK12 and higher education community partners, campus and college leadership, and alumni and current doctoral students. This exceptionally positive news distinctly reaffirms our quest for academic excellence and intentionality in fulfilling our mission, transparency, accountability, and integrity.

Read the press release

CSUSB Designation Raised to an R2 Doctoral University: High Research Activity

Cal State San Bernardino recently advanced to the category of Doctoral University: High Research Activity (R2), raising the university’s status to a “national university” from a “regional university” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Read more about the R2 designation in Inside CSUSB.

Contact the CSUSB Doctoral Studies program for more information on earning a doctorate at CSUSB.

Welcome

The Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership is a program framed around questions of equity, ethics, and social justice to bring about solutions to complex problems of practice. The program is designed to prepare educational leaders with the knowledge base and skills to lead reform efforts that result in improved student outcomes and educational transformation, particularly for our Inland Empire region.

This 3-year cohort-based program meets the needs of full-time professionals in the field of education, either PreK-12 or Community College/Higher Education careers. Courses are conveniently offered on weekends, Friday 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Students attend every other weekend in Fall and Spring semesters, and every weekend during the Summer semester. Students are encouraged to identify a field-based problem of practice for their dissertation research.

Doctoral Spotlight

November 2024
- Sailesh Maharjan (Doctoral Candidate, Cohort 16), interviewed by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education [diverseeducation.com].
- Thomas Robles (Doctoral Candidate, Cohort 16) Outstanding Student Leader Award Winner 2024 Educational Leadership Summit
- Dr. Jess Block Nerren, doctorate in educational leadership (Cohort 13) to lead first-ever State Bar-approved neurodiversity and disability implicit bias training
- Dr. Cherina Betters (Cohort 9), President-Elect of the Association of California Administrators (ACSA) Region 12
   
September 2024
- Kevon Lee (Cohort 18 student) shares what the Ed.D program means to him Kevon shares what this program means to him and his family via Instagram
July 2024
- Dr. Cherina Betters (Cohort 9), was appointed the new SBCCD Trustee. She will represent Area 7, which includes Highland, Lake Arrowhead, surrounding mountain communities, and neighborhoods around the San Bernardino International Airport.
June 2024
- Juan Carlos Luna (Cohort 16) a devoted educator with two decades of experience in education, was awarded a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Achievements in the Educational Sector by The City of Rialto.
- Dr. Edwin Gomez, Cohort 4 Selected as the CALSA (California Association of Latino Superintendents & Administrators) 2024 Superintendent of the Year!
May 2024
- Pablo Gutierrez Cervantes (Cohort 17) featured in CSUSB Daily News article CSUSB doctoral student’s journey from Mexico to the American Dream
  
  Pablo Gutierrez, Ed.D. Student
April 2024
- Dr. Veronica X. Valadez (Doctoral Candidate Cohort 15) Keynote Speaker at the 18th Annual Statewide Conference of the Association of Raza Educators [razaeducators.org]
- Dr. Nori Sogomonian (Cohort 1) named 2024 Outstanding Professor, San Bernardino Valley College
- Lisa Davenport (Cohort 15) named Outstanding Doctoral Student (2023-2024)
- Dr. Aja Vasquez, program fellow and doctorate in educational leadership (Cohort 4)
  CSUF Business Communication Outstanding Citizen Award Winner
Jan 2024
- Rachael L. Goldberg, Doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Administration (Cohort 13) hired as the Dean of Student Services for Counseling and Support Programs at Copper Mountain Community College in Joshua Tree.
Oct 25, 2023
- Principal of the Year: CSUSB alumna Erika Tejeda and first-generation Chicana empowers futures:
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Oct 24, 2023
- Juan Carlos Luna, doctoral student in educational leadership (Cohort 16) to receive inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame Award
October 18, 2023
- Dr. Felix Zuniga, doctorate in educational leadership (Cohort 7) awarded for DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP
Oct 18, 2023
- Dr. Deborah Grijalva, doctorate in educational leadership (Cohort 11) to serve as Senior Director of University of Redlands new Student Success Center
October 11, 2023
- Dr. Jenna Aguirre (cohort 10), awarded the Citizens of Achievement award from the League of Women Voters of the San Bernardino Area.
Sep 5, 2023
- Ed.D. Program alumnus Dr. Eduardo Vásquez (cohort 12) is now a published author in a peer reviewed journal. The publication title is Exploring the Lived Experiences of Faculty of Color Seeking Full-Time Employment in Rural Community Colleges
August 23, 2023
- Dr. Stephanie Ingalls (cohort 14) hired as the Chief Human Resources Officer for Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Aug 2, 2023
- Angelica Agudo (Ed.D. Program Cohort 15, Holmes Scholar) selected as a Moreno Valley College Faculty Fellow for the upcoming academic year. Angelica will be working with a mentor within the School of Business, Health, and Human Services at Moreno Valley College and will have an opportunity to shadow her mentor both in their teaching, as well as their other faculty roles outside of the classroom.
May 10, 2023
- Rangel Velez Zarate named Outstanding DOCTORAL Student (2022-2023), CSUSB, James R. Watson & Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education
Apr 30, 2023
- Rangel Velez Zarate, doctorate in educational leadership program (cohort 14), wins second place - CSU Systemwide Student Research Competition.
Apr 21, 2023
- Jason Crowley, Cohort 14, is not only Director of Institutional Research at Owens Community College, but now has added Institutional Effectiveness to his portfolio.
April 21, 2023
- Angelica Agudo (cohort 15), Rangel Zarate (cohort 14), Olivia Hart (cohort 14), and Jennifer Borton (cohort 14) presented at the 19th Annual Graduate Student Research & Scholarship Symposium (in person) on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 from 6-8 PM.
April 17, 2023
- Dr. Jenna Aguirre, doctorate in educational leadership (cohort 10), to serve as interim Chief of Staff for Academic Affairs at CSUSB
April 12, 2023
- Olivia Chavez Hart, Cohort 14, Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership Program, competed in the second-annual Grad Slam with her project Hidden in Plain Sight: Bilingual Hearing Children of Deaf Adults. The Grand Slam is a student research communication competition that asks graduate students to summarize their research projects in three minutes, or less, to a panel of judges.
April 7, 2022
- The Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Mexicali published a book, Inclusión educativa desde la Universidad, Ediciones Octaedro (Barcelona). A chapter by recent Ed.D. graduate, Lilia Lopez, Educación superior e inclusión de estudiantes con discapacidad: retos y recomendaciones, is included in this collection.
April 2022
- Theresa Gonzalez named Outstanding DOCTORAL Student (2021-2022), CSUSB, College of Education
March 29, 2022
- Austin Quick and James (jimmy) Grabow had a book chapter accepted, titled: Educational Reform: Systemic Inclusion. The writing team consists of Drs. Becky Sumbera and Shannon Sparks, and two doctorate students Austin Quick and James (jimmy) Grabow. This book broadens educational leadership and DEI research by challenging oppressive power structures as it relates to ability and disability in a teacher education and educational leadership context.
March 27, 2023
- Dr Erika Tejeda (cohort 9), principal of Liberty High School, has been selected as Principal of the Year for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). There are more than 4000 high schools in California.
March 14, 2023
- Sharon Velarde Pierce, CSUSB alumna, was honored for her expertise in advising, authentic care for student success, a heartfelt passion for the profession, and her enduring commitment to teaching and mentoring students.
March 13, 2023
- Dr. Cherina Betters, Cohort 9 Alumna, Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership Program, named Outstanding Lecturer for Watson College of Education (CSUSB).
Feb 22, 2023
- Angelica Agudo was awarded an AERA Conference Registration Sponsorship by AERA Division A! The American Educational Research Association is a professional organization representing education researchers in the United States and around the world.
February 15, 2023
- CSUSB alumna reflects on her work on equity and access - As chief of equity and access at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Cherina Betters represents 33 school districts and more than 400,000 students.
January 27, 2023
- Doctoral alumni, Dr. Jess Nerren, Dr. Lilia Lopez, and Dr. Audrey Baca Lopez, and faculty, Dr. Karen Escalante, published in the COE-based, Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice.

Announcements

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CSU Executive Order 991 Doctor of Education Degree Programs Policy

Meet Our Ed.D. Leadership Team

Student Financial Aid

Program Outcome / Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) Alignment

Ed.D. Admissions

Interested in Learning about our Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program?

Consider joining us, via Zoom, on one of the days listed below at 4:00 PM to learn more. Our information sessions are led by our Director, Dr. Murillo, and our Program Specialist, Dr. Ortiz. The information sessions outline why to pursue an Ed.D., an overview of the program, and process for admissions.

10/2/2024
~~10/16/2024~~
~~10/30/2024~~
Canceled
11/6/2024
11/20/2024

12/4/2024
1/15/2025
1/29/2025
2/12/2025
2/26/2025

3/26/2025
4/9/2025
4/23/2025

Professional Development Opportunities for Current and Recent Doctoral Students

Rancho Academy Partnership with CSUSB Ed.D. Program

The Rancho Academy was created by the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) – Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) to advance opportunities for current graduate students and recent doctoral graduates of diverse backgrounds to learn the ins and outs of the California Community College system. This program is a ten-week commitment at no cost and participants will be matched with a faculty or administrator mentor.

All graduate students or recent doctoral graduates who are interested in starting a faculty or administrator career at the community college level are welcome to apply. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ to highly encouraged to apply.

Rancho Academy Brochure

Holmes Scholars Program

The Holmes Scholars Program at CSUSB, supported by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, provides a supportive environment to doctoral students traditionally underserved in higher education. The goal of the program is to provide mentorship, peer support, and professional development opportunities to Scholars, who will serve as outstanding candidates for future faculty and leadership positions. If you would like more information, please contact Dr. Karen Escalante by email at karen.escalante@csusb.edu or Stacey Ortiz at stacey.ortiz@csusb.edu or. Review a current list of our Ed.D. Program and Faculty Fellows for potential mentors. Applications will be accepted starting July through August 2023.

Holmes Scholar Application

Holmes Scholar Opportunities

Connect with peers in the Ed.D. Doctoral Program

Engagement with faculty and/or Ed.D. Program Fellows in regular mentoring meetings

Membership in a national network of peers with access to dedicated online social networks

Mentoring opportunities by Holmes Scholar alumni currently in academia and other leadership positions

Opportunities to present their research at the AACTE Annual Meeting

Dedicated mentoring programs at the AACTE Annual Meeting

A job fair at the AACTE Annual Meeting and access to position announcements through the year

Annual Holmes Scholars Summer Policy Institute in Washington, DC, including participation in AACTE’s Day on the Hill and networking events associated with the AACTE State Leaders Institute

Attend the AACTE Holmes Scholars® Dissertation Retreat and Research Symposium

Leadership and professional development opportunities at the school level, campus level, and national level, such as participation in conference presentations and policy/advocacy training

Holmes Scholar Expectations

Two-to three-year commitment to the CSUSB AACTE Holmes Scholars® program

Attendance to CSUSB AACTE Holmes Scholars® program meetings & sponsored events

Engagement in collaborative research with annual refereed publication and presentation deliverables

Excellent academic standing in your program

Collaboration with CSUSB faculty, community partners, and national educational partners

Participation in/facilitation of community-engaged projects

Engagement in selected specific professional organizations both locally and nationally

Annual attendance at the AACTE National Conference

Participation in at least one AACTE Summer Policy Institute

Peer-mentoring of a first-year Holmes Scholar (in years two and three)

P.R.E.P. (Professional Resource and Engagement Program)

You've defined your future. Now PREP for it!

Professional Resource and Engagement Program (PREP) is a space for you as a CSUSB graduate student to take advantage of free workshops to develop professionally and personally. Your rigorous graduate program at CSUSB engages you in a rich academic experience and allows you to develop a high level of expertise. PREP prepares you to articulate how your academic expertise aligns with your personal and professional development. Your academic journey is a personal one as is your professional persona. PREP offers you a selection of seven categories as shown below. When you see a category that piques your interest based on your own needs, click the link to locate related PREP workshops as well as other relevant workshops across campus.

Research Support Resources

Doctoral Scholar-Practitioners can take advantage of CSUSB Pfau Library Educational Leadership Databases and Research Resources, including research appointments with Librarian, Lisa Bartle, research orientation materials, APA 7th Edition updates, and more!

Educational Leadership Library Resources