Georgian Court University (GCU) has officially launched a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership program, which allows students to earn the degree in as little as three years.
Unlike the traditional model of most doctoral programs, where the dissertation is left until the completion of coursework, students begin writing or working on their dissertations in the first semester of their enrollment. This enables students to earn their degree in just three years, as opposed to other doctoral programs, which can take an average of 5-10 years to complete.
Georgian Court University’s 54-credit, cohort-based Ed.D. program features flexible online courses and two in-person on-campus residencies to immerse students in the program. The program also features an international experience as a final residency to broaden the mindset and understanding of the education system outside the United States.
“That early start, along with the program structure, means that most students are projected to finish in three to four years,” stated Interim President Dr. Eugene J. Cornacchia. “This ambitious yet achievable timeline reflects our commitment to their success.”
The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program is designed for novice and experienced leaders across different fields. The program prepares leaders who want to pursue careers in Pre-K-12 education or as non-profit organization administrators, leading to positions such as: school superintendents, school principals, supervisors, deans, provosts, policy advocates, higher education faculty, and administration positions.
The program kickoff event was held on Friday, September 19. Leaders, partners, and students of the Ed.D. program, along with members of the Georgian Court community, gathered to celebrate the historic milestone and the program’s first cohort of 14 students. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Diocese of Trenton, gave the invocation prayer and delivered the keynote address for the event.
“This program has been long-awaited,” said Dr. Amuhelang Magaya, Associate Professor in the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, and Ed.D. Program Director and developer of the program. “Our celebration is that we have come this far, and this is where we are. I want us to celebrate that we worked so hard. It took everybody.”
Georgian Court’s Mercy core values are at the heart of the program and woven through each course and educational experience. They serve as a guide to the first cohort on their academic and personal journey, and can be translated into their educational leadership roles after they graduate.
Student Perspectives
Members of the inaugural cohort expressed enthusiasm about the program’s impact on their careers and communities.
Kimberly Gleinig, Vice Principal of Donovan Catholic High School, attended Georgian Court for her undergraduate degree and Master’s in Administration and Leadership. She aims to use the leadership experience she gains for her school, her students, the Diocese of Trenton, and other national Catholic schools.
“I want to use my experience to enhance the education of Catholic students to be 21st-century learners, and to contribute to the research available to aspiring Catholic educators and leaders to aid in their decision-making as they grow as teachers and leaders,” said Gleinig.
The program adopts a student-first philosophy. Students are immediately paired with faculty advisors for personal one-on-one mentoring and support, and receive access to methodological resources to ensure a successful dissertation process. In addition to online courses, students participate in field experiences, a weekend and weeklong campus residency, and have the opportunity to engage in a weeklong international experience.
“This Ed.D. program is built around the student. It is designed with full-time professionals, educators, and administrators in mind, all of whom are balancing demanding schedules but want to grow as leaders without putting their careers on hold,” explained Dr. Cornacchia.
Student Richard Van Pelt, a volunteer catechist at the Church of Visitation in Brick, said the immediate assistance from faculty is important. “How much the program is guided, it’s very personal, and it starts from day one. The program and Georgian Court as a whole are very communal.”
Richard earned his undergraduate degree in History with a minor in Religious Studies and Mercy Spirituality Certificate attached, and his Master’s in Theology at Georgian Court. He also holds a Master’s in Social Work. He aims to use this Ed.D. degree as a catalyst for becoming a lay minister or pastor, using a guided historical, religious approach to create awareness in disability theology.
Michael Hajisafari, an assistant principal at Lavallette Elementary School, completed his Master’s in Educational Administration and Leadership and received his Business Administration Certificate from Georgian Court. He wants to use his doctorate to teach graduate students in a leadership role, fulfill his ambition to be a lifelong learner, and teach others to do the same. “My mom has always said, ‘Your education, nobody could take that away from you, so keep pushing forward.’ And I think getting your doctorate is the highest level of that accomplishment.”
Susan Coll-Guedes, Clinical Specialist of Art and Art Education at The College of New Jersey, knows this program will help expand her capacity beyond education in the classroom. It will also allow her to drive systemic change by advancing research on Medicaid policy, disability services, and inclusive education.
“When GCU announced it would offer this degree, I immediately knew it was the right fit for me,” she explained. “The Mercy core values, particularly the commitment to social justice, deeply resonate with me. In addition, the small class sizes and strong support I experienced during my Master’s in Education and Supervision Certification programs at GCU reaffirmed my decision to continue my studies here, knowing I would receive the same support.”
Alice Velez, Educational Consultant and Co-Founder of Velez Educational Services, served as an educator for over three decades and attended Georgian Court for her bachelor’s and first master’s degree. She believes all of the Mercy core values are inherent to educational leadership and everything she does, especially service.
“As a member of the first cohort of this historic program, I want to be of service to the other members,” expressed Velez. “I want to understand their goals and their obstacles and support them in any way that I can, and to pay forward the support that I received over my career.”
Oscar Orellana, a first-generation student, already earned a master’s degree in School Counseling and certification in School Supervision from Georgian Court, but wanted to do more.
“I am just truly blessed to be here,” said Orellana, an athletic director and guidance counselor at Ocean Academy Charter School in Lakewood. “Many things talk about hope, and what our job is as leaders. I really think that for me is the number one. To just bring hope to others as those before me brought hope to me.”
Erin Gomez, an Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Middlesex Borough School District, holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Georgian Court. She hopes to become a superintendent and adjunct professor to help future doctoral students with their dissertations. She believes their responsibility as this first cohort is not only to pave the way for their future success, but for the future success of the many cohorts to come.
“I have worked with Dr. Magaya and Dr. Ravally, who is my dissertation advisor, for my Master’s, and I know how phenomenal and forward-thinking they are,” said Gomez. “They recognize our potential and what we can accomplish well before we can see it in ourselves, which allows us to grow while being supported. In three years, we’re going to be in a completely different place than we are right now, and even more incredible than we all are already.”
