Doctor of Education

Elevating Education

Consistently ranked as one of the most effective educator preparation programs in the state of Tennessee and the nation, Lipscomb University’s College of Education, offers the Doctor of Education to those who wish to lead and implement change at the highest levels of education.

Enter a journey that will help you become an effective educational leader and open doors of opportunity that allow you to be the change in education. Whether your focus is K-12 or higher education, prepare yourself to lead in either public or private academic environments.

We know that you want to start making a difference now. That’s why our program culminates with practical, collaborative doctoral research that addresses real needs in authentic settings for the purpose of informing educational practice.

90%

Retention rate

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Cohort-Based Learning

Online (3 Years)

Lipscomb University offers online-hybrid delivery of the same rigorous and respected Doctor of Education program that is offered on-campus. All online Ed.D. courses are semester length and consist of a blend of asynchronous curriculum along with synchronous sessions that students attend remotely via Zoom.

On-Campus (2 Years)

Students in the on-campus program experience tremendous academic success. Better than 90% of students who start the program have graduated or are continuing to progress toward graduation. The on-campus cohorts participate in class sessions on the main Lipscomb University campus in Nashville, Tennessee.

Cohort Travel Opportunities

Both cohort models take part in a period of travel. In an increasingly diverse educational landscape, we believe in the importance of examining educational leadership with a global perspective. That's why the program offers a 10-day international experience in Europe during which you will meet and interview educational leaders, policy makers and practitioners. You will study and consider educational policy reform initiatives at the primary, secondary and post-secondary levels.

Program Highlights

Cohort Model

Our cohort model emphasizes communal learning and extended field experiences. You’ll have the opportunity to form professional and personal relationships with like-minded peers that will extend far beyond the duration of your program.

Small Class Sizes

You’ll have opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion, receive one-on-one faculty mentorship and ask difficult questions in our small classes. Plus, you’ll feel supported in a tight-knit learning community.

Networking

Learning alongside educators from both the K-12 and higher education settings will afford you opportunities to form relationships with leaders in the education community and establish connections that will serve you throughout your career.

Career Paths

Educational Leadership Positions

Educational leadership positions in K-12 include instructional coaches, lead faculty, assistant principals, building principals, executive principals, a variety of district roles including superintendents, and a variety of roles in the state department of education.

Higher Education Positions

Educators work in higher education as faculty or in administrative roles such as program directors, deans, vice presidents and presidents. Their job duties vary depending upon the role they fill.

Education Support Organizations

Education support organizations provide services to both K-12 and higher education. These organizations include a number of leadership opportunities in the area of policy formation, advocacy, professional development, assessment services and support for educational leaders and institutions.

Our Faculty

Trace Hebert

Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies

Trace Hebert serves as Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies. He has been at Lipscomb University since 2010 as the Director of the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Program and Professor of Educational Leadership, and has formerly served as Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the College of Education.

Debi Hoggatt

Assistant Professor

Hoggatt began her career in higher education as a faculty member and director of the early childhood program at Rochester College in 1993, and later served there as Program Director and Associate Dean of the Center for Extended Learning. Her interest in doctoral work and educational leadership led her to Lipscomb University in 2015.

Deborah Boyd

Dean Emerita, Professor, College of Education

Currently dean emerita of the Lipscomb University College of Education, she served as dean of the college and executive director for the Ayers Institute for Learning and Innovation from 2015 until 2021, after serving as associate dean (2008-2015).

Robin Cayce

Assistant Professor

Dr. Robin is an Assistant Professor with Lipscomb University in the Educational Leadership Program. In addition, she serves as the Chattanooga Teach for America Lipscomb University Liaison, working to support the Chattanooga corps members.

Emily Mofield

Assistant Professor

With over 20 years of experience in gifted education, Dr. Mofield has published numerous research articles, books and book chapters related to perfectionism, psychosocial skills, collaborative teaching practices, differentiation and curriculum development in gifted education.

Alice Nie

Assistant Professor

Alice Nie began her career in education in New York working with English language learners. Since then, she has taught both domestically as well as internationally in countries including Saudi Arabia, China, India, Turkey and Hungary.

Keith Nikolaus

Adjunct Faculty

Nikolaus returned to the university in 2008 from Lipscomb Academy to serve as a professor in the College of Education, where he has taught in the undergraduate, master's and Ed.S. programs. His primary teaching load currently is in the Ed.D. program.

Tessa Sanders

Assistant Director for Ed.D. On-Campus Cohorts

In Nashville, Tennessee, she served as a classroom teacher, an instructional coach, a co-director for a pre-service teacher training program and a curriculum development consultant. She currently teaches doctoral-level courses in Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis and Research Methods.

Shape the Future of Education

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