Dissertation
The dissertation is the culmination of the doctoral program and as such must reflect a high degree of scholarly competence for students. Students will be required to first submit and defend their dissertation proposal. Students will advance to full dissertation after they have successfully defended their proposal. The full dissertation must report, in an accepted scholarly style, an original investigation of a research problem or theory of significance in the student’s area of concentration.
The final product will demonstrate the candidate’s ability to conduct original qualitative, quantitative or mixed research design in an area related to leadership in educational, public, or private organizations. The dissertation will take place over a minimum of three semesters. The student will meet periodically with their dissertation committee to obtain feedback and guidance regarding progress throughout the three dissertation semesters.
Students will register for the following:
Qualifying Exam (0 credits, academic plan registration number PHD 900)
Dissertation (12 credits, academic plan registration numbers PHD 910, 912, 914, 916)
Students must complete Qualifying Candidacy Examinations (commonly called the Comprehensive Exam) before registering for the dissertation.
Dissertation Defense (0 credits, academic plan registration number PHD 980)
Dissertations of Spring 2020 Ph.D. Graduates
Amber R. Borreli, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Di You, Ph.D.
Title: The Impact of Race in Police Leadership
Patricia A. Brenner, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Chair: Margaret Anne Dougherty, Ph.D.
Title: A Mixed Methods Inquiry of Practicum in School Counseling Student and Supervisor Experiences
Julia K. Dunst, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Spencer S. Stober, Ed.D.
Title: Articulation of Community Engagement in Higher Education: A Comparative Study of Carnegie Classified Schools
James M. Elliker, Ph.D. in Corporate Leadership
Chair: Spencer S. Stober, Ed.D.
Title: Finding Greenleaf in a Hotel Dedicated to a City
Sean F. Griech, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Spencer S. Stober, Ed.D.
Title: The Role of Ethical Leadership in the Clinical Decision Making of Physical Therapists in Caring for Patients of Differing Socioeconomic Status and Race with Low Back Pain in the United States
Harun Gultekin, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Chair: Margaret Anne Dougherty, Ph.D.
Title: Servant Leadership in School Leaders and Teachers and Its Effect on Student Achievement
Daniel E. Lebo, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Di You, Ph.D.
Title: Understanding Contributing Factors of Burnout in United Methodist Clergy
Helen M. Midouhas, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Di You, Ph.D.
Title: The Attachment Style Differences Among Pennsylvania Mentors and Mentees and Their Leadership Career Aspirations
Jullien Searfoss, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Chair: Margaret Anne Dougherty, Ph.D.
Title: The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Styles and Gender of Superintendents in Pennsylvania Public School Districts
Salvador Sepulveda, Jr., Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Chair: Margaret Anne Dougherty, Ph.D.
Title: A Pilot Study on How School Principal's Authentic Leadership Affects Teacher Morale, School Health and Student Achievement
Benjamin Delp Watts, Ph.D. in Corporate Leadership
Chair: Margaret Anne Dougherty, Ph.D.
Title: A Phenomenological Case Study of Orchestral Leadership - A Pilot Study
Dissertations of Spring 2019 Ph.D. Graduates
Michael L. Saylor, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Chair: Dr. Margaret Anne Dougherty
Title: The Impact of The Leader In Me School Leadership Model On Perceived Shared Leadership
Esther Abigail Wells, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Dr. Tim H. Blessing
Title: Reading Leadership Life Writing: A Critical-Historical Interpretation of Black Jewish Life in The Americas
Crystal I. Edwards, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Dr. Kevin Godfrey
Title: Leaders and Perceptions of Leadership among Latinos in Reading, Pa: A Pilot Study
Jay R. Harf, Ph.D. in Corporate Leadership
Chair: Dr. Samuel Bradley
Title: Executive Viewpoints of Occupational Safety Excellence: An Exploration of Emergent Leadership Theory and Practice
Curtis R. Stevens, Ph.D. in Community Leadership
Chair: Dr. Spencer Stober
Title: Leadership at Three Mile Island: A Qualitative Study of a Technological Disaster
Gerald P. Witmer Jr., Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Chair: Dr. Margaret Anne Dougherty
Title: Leadership for Career & Technical Education Improvement: The Relationship between Instructional Coaching and Student Achievement
Allison Austin, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
Chair: Dr. Karen Ann V. Cameron
Title: Examination of Leadership Styles: Program Directors of Athletic Training Programs Using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ)
