Overview
Dr. Jeannine Dingus-Eason, Program Director
The Education Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College is administered by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education (SoE). The program provides candidates with an opportunity to develop the critical leadership skills and knowledge that are required in today’s increasingly complex, diverse, and information-driven organizations. This unique and rigorous education program in executive leadership was developed to provide an attractive and viable alternative to “traditional” doctoral programs in educational leadership. As an alternative doctoral model, the program is designed to:
- Provide executives and senior managers with an advanced curriculum that focuses on relevant and current topics and issues in executive leadership.
- Focus on the core leadership competencies, dispositions, and applied research that executives and senior managers need to be effective in various organizational settings.
- Provide opportunities for candidates to focus their dissertation on actual problems in their organization, making the dissertation relevant and practical, and thereby encouraging organizational support.
- Provide candidates with access to a network of successful executives and organizations to support their intellectual, professional, and career development.
Mission
The Executive Leadership program operates within the context of the SoE’s conceptual framework, which embraces a philosophy of social justice based on five interlocking tenets: diversity, achievement, compassion, knowledge, and service. The program’s faculty and staff are committed to modeling this philosophy in their interactions with candidates, colleagues, and the community.
The mission of the Doctoral Program in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College is to provide a unique, challenging, and rigorous educational experience that focuses on issues in leadership and related fields while drawing on the best practices from a range of disciplines. The program prepares candidates for executive leadership roles within the context of a diverse, information-driven, and increasingly technological society. To this end, the program seeks to:
- Prepare ethically responsible leaders who are committed to improving conditions, opportunities, and outcomes for their clients and employees.
- Prepare highly capable leaders who understand and know how to use research, best practices, and new technologies to guide change and improve individual and organizational performance.
- Prepare confident and compassionate leaders who are committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in underserved communities.
- Prepare socially conscious and morally grounded leaders who respect and embrace diversity and understand the importance of human resource development.
Goals
The goals of the program are:
- To provide a high-quality educational program that prepares candidates for successful careers as executive leaders.
- To provide a program of study that promotes effective organizational and individual performance.
- To maintain a professional environment that promotes an understanding of and appreciation for diversity.
- To provide greater access for groups historically underrepresented in doctoral-level programs and in positions of executive leadership.
- To provide a rigorous multidisciplinary advanced program of study for working professionals that fosters high rates of completion.
Admission Requirements
Admission is limited to qualified candidates who have:
- A minimum of three years of successful management/administrative-level experience.
- Completed a master’s degree program in a related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
- A proven record of excellence in mid-level leadership and management.
Candidates are required to provide evidence of their potential to meet the demands of a rigorous doctoral-level program.
Candidates for admission are required to submit:
- A completed admissions application.
- Official college transcripts documenting completion of a master’s degree.
- Two recommendations from successful leaders currently practicing in the candidate’s or a related profession.
- The Applicant Employment History and Supervisor’s Performance Appraisal and Recommendation form documenting employment history and performance for the most recent two years.
- Three professional writing samples of no longer than five pages each, with the total not exceeding ten pages.
- A current résumé.
- A concise essay, of no more than one typed page, outlining the candidate’s vision of leadership and reasons for applying to the program.
Applicants who meet the requirements will be required to:
- Participate in a formal interview process.
- Provide an on-demand writing sample on the day of the interview.
Locations
The Doctoral Program in Executive Leadership is offered at three locations:
- St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY
- The College of New Rochelle’s Westchester Campus in New Rochelle, NY (Extension Site)
- Onondaga Community College's Regional Higher Education Center, Syracuse, N.Y. (Extension Site)
All Ed.D. candidates at extension sites are required to take one course on the St. John Fisher College campus.
For information regarding application and admission to the doctoral program, prospective candidates should contact the St. John Fisher College Office of Graduate Admissions at (585) 385-8161 or email grad@sjfc.edu.