The Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development: HEOEJ concentration equips researchers, administrators, and policymakers to create just learning environments and opportunities that uplift, humanize, and empower all people to thrive in postsecondary educational settings.
Concentration Details
CONCENTRATION DESCRIPTION
Given the change-making contributions of education in society, students and faculty in our concentration explore questions related to organizational and individual dynamics in higher education. These questions address how colleges and universities function and interface with other educational sectors and external communities, as well as how policies and practices within and beyond higher education influence (for better or worse) access, success, and thriving among students, faculty, and staff. We seek to inspire our students, alumni and faculty to serve as scholars, practitioners, change agents, and innovative leaders in colleges, universities, research and policy institutes, non-profit organizations, as well as in national and international postsecondary organizations. We aim to develop critical thinkers who have a broad perspective about how higher education can serve a justice-oriented purpose in society.
As a Concentration, we are committed to:
- Honoring the unique theoretical, methodological, and practice-oriented approaches we each take in our scholarship, teaching, leadership, and service to create social change;
- Pursuing cross-cutting, interdisciplinary partnerships that disrupt traditional boundaries between educational sectors;
- Bridging gaps between theory, research, policy, and practice to ensure our collective work moves beyond knowledge generation to advancing educational and social change;
- Mentoring the next generation of higher education leaders to confront challenges related to opportunity and justice in an authentic, informed, responsible, and ethical manner; and
- Cultivating a program culture that is generative, humanizing, communal, inspiring, and liberating.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Applications to the HEOEJ concentration must be submitted by December 1 for applicants to be considered for admission in the following academic year. Applications must include:
- A personal statement of interest and desired career goals. The statement should be written in essay format, be no more than 1,500 words, and address the following questions:
- How does a Ph.D. support your life goals and professional pursuits?
- What draws you to NC State and the HEOEJ doctoral concentration?
- What research interests and questions do you hope to explore in a Ph.D. program? Why are these research interests and questions important to you?
- How do your interests connect with the work of faculty in the concentration?
- What do you envision for the future upon completing a Ph.D.?
- A professional resume or CV
- Transcripts from all institutions attended (except NC State)
- Three academic/professional recommendations
- TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students
COURSE OF STUDY
The HEOEJ concentration requires a minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of 60 graduate credit hours beyond an approved master’s degree. Time to degree is typically 4–6 years depending on enrollment status. Required coursework for the HEOEJ concentration can be found in the university course catalog.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP INFORMATION
Research, teaching, and practice-based experiences within the HEOEJ concentration take several forms: (1) assistantships, (2) research projects, (3) independent studies, (4) supervised teaching, and other independent projects. Graduate assistantships are paid opportunities for part-time employment (15-20 hours per week) and are generally contracted for a minimum of an academic year. Many of these opportunities are made possible through our strong partnership with the Division of Academic and Student Affairs at NC State.
Students in the concentration are not required to hold a graduate assistantship; however, most of our full-time students are interested and able to secure assistantships to help fund their graduate education while gaining valuable experience. There is not a separate application for obtaining a graduate assistantship; the program assists in the matching process for graduate students. Each year in February, we host an annual Preview the Pack event where students are able to interview for various assistantships that will be available during the following academic year.
Assistantship/Employment contracts, tuition remission, and stipend amounts vary based upon the position and institution. In addition to assistantships at NC State, our program has longstanding partnerships with both Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and in the past, we have had assistantships at North Carolina Central University and Meredith College. Below is a sampling of assistantships at NC State held by our students:
- Division of Academic and Student Affairs, Office of the Vice Chancellor
- Office of Institutional Research
- University Housing
- Goodnight Scholars Program
- Graduate School
- Office of Equal Opportunity
- Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development
FACULTY
Faculty in the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development: HEOEJ concentration:
- Krispin Barr
Assistant Teaching Professor of Higher Education
kwbarr@ncsu.edu - Joy Gaston Gayles
Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development
joy_gayles@ncsu.edu - Keon McGuire
Associate Professor of Higher Education Opportunity, Equity, and Justice
kmmcgui3@ncsu.edu - Alyssa Rockenbach
Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor and Program Coordinator
alyssa_rockenbach@ncsu.edu - Roshaunda Breeden
Assistant Professor of Higher Education Opportunity, Equity, and Justice
r_breeden@ncsu.edu
Affiliate Faculty
- Christy Byrd
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
christy_byrd@ncsu.edu
Emeriti Faculty
- Mary Ann Danowitz
Professor and Dean Emerita
mdanowi@ncsu.edu
HEOEJ Concentration News
More HEOEJ storiesAlumni Distinguished Graduate Professor of Higher Education Alyssa Rockenbach Joins 2025 Life Worth Living Fellowship Program
Department Head and Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor of Higher Education Joy Gaston Gayles Wins AERA Research Focus on Education and Sport SIG Distinguished Senior Scholar Award
Graduate Student Speaker Jayla Moody ’25PHD: ‘I Hope People Remember That the Power of Education Lies Not Just in What We Achieve, but in How We Empower Others To Do the Same’
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