Chair's Welcome

Robert Shockley, Ph.D. Welcome to the Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology at Florida Atlantic University. The department's first graduates were in 1966 at the master's degree level, and the first doctoral students graduated in 1973. Since its inception, the department has graduated more than 6000 Masters, Specialist, and Doctoral students. The department's faculty has an enviable record of quality teaching, relevant research, and substantial service to the college, the university, the profession, and the wider community.

Faculty expertise covers a wide range of areas in leadership, including higher education and K-12 education policy and practice, as well as organizational development. Additionally, faculty expertise in research methods is in great demand from doctoral students, university faculty, and the community.

The department has two program areas that look specifically at the development of leaders; these include the K-12 school sector and the higher education sector. The department programs include a Master of Educational Leadership, a Specialist in Educational Leadership, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership. These degrees are offered with a concentration in K-12 School Leadership and Higher Education Leadership.

An additional program area is Research Methodology. These faculty members are a team of methodologists with extensive skills in the design, implementation, and analysis of research. The faculty supports all College of Education graduate programs, including doctoral dissertation research.

The Department faculty also serves the broader community by participating in committees of local schools and other education agencies, including the Florida Department of Education; delivering professional development and service on advisory committees; and providing consulting advice to external groups and organizations. The faculty members are world citizens and collectively have presented or worked in over forty countries. Department faculty members are actively involved in meaningful educational research that results in publishing books, articles, and papers delivered at International, National, and State Conferences.

We look forward to working with you and sharing our expertise. As a potential student, current student, alum, friend of the department, potential partner, or someone seeking information, we welcome you to our website.

Robert Shockley, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Educational Leadership