Meet Our Interim Department Head

Welcome to the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development (ELPHD). This is a vibrant research culture that inspires and mentors students through teaching, advising, research collaboration and dissertation supervision. As a land-grant institution, we have a tradition of engaging with the community and connecting research with practice.

Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty are committed to research, teaching, service and extension across the life-span – from K-12 to higher education to adult and life-long learning. ELPHD includes 41 faculty, 6 directors/non-faculty, 10 instructors who are active administrators in schools and universities, a post-doc, and a visiting professor all of whom are committed to educational equity and student success. With over 600 graduate students at various stages of research, our goal is to get students to and through the degree programs in a way that builds on existing capacities and talents – as students build a career that has a lasting impact on the field.

As researchers and teachers, our faculty undertake many significant projects of research, advocacy, policy, and tangible practice. They explore complex contemporary issues and problems facing education and society—including issues of community-focused leadership development for high-poverty rural schools, college access and student success, sexual violence, cross cultural counseling, community college leadership, and state and institutional policies that affect children and adult learning—with a view toward solutions that will make a real, positive difference for students, teachers, counselors, administrators, policy makers, and communities.

Of course, a university education is about more than what happens in the classroom or digital learning environment. We encourage graduate students to pursue research opportunities, to present and publish their research, and to seek internships, practicum, and clinic hours to build on what they are learning and to prepare for their future careers.

Our recent graduates exemplify the wide variety of research interests and goals we encourage and support. If you share our passion to improve education in its varied settings, I invite you to learn more about our programs and degree options. Please contact the program coordinators to discuss your career goals and interests.

If you are an alum, I especially encourage you to stay in touch with the faculty in your program. We would love to know where your career has taken you, what you are up to, and we are eager to keep you posted about the great ventures that are happening in our department. You can also keep up with us on Facebook at NC State College of Education and Twitter @NCStateCED. I wish you the very best in your journey.

Sincerely,

Marc A. Grimmett, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Department Head
Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development