UMass Boston

The Department of Leadership in Education prepares professionals for leadership roles in education (schools, colleges, universities, and education related institutions) through our three programs:

• Higher Education PhD/EdD
• Urban Education, Leadership, and Policy Studies PhD/EdD
• Educational Administration MEd/CAGS

Our programs are highly regarded in the region for developing educational leaders in K-12 and higher education organizations. Highly dedicated faculty members have developed strong curricula in each program; they are active researchers whose scholarship has attracted national and international attention.

Leadership for change and social justice is a common core element in all three of our programs. The department is committed to preparing thoughtful and responsive leaders who can foster transformation in urban schools and higher education institutions. The faculty, curricula, and application processes are described on each program’s webpage.

Our Values

Since its founding in 1993, the Department of Leadership in Education has pursued a social justice mission that continues to shape its educational practices, research agendas, and public outreach efforts. The Department’s long history of anti-racist work has produced deep connections with communities of educational leaders in the city and region. Led by faculty who are among the most accomplished scholars in their respective fields, the Department’s three academic programs prepare scholar-practitioners for leadership roles in K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and community and policy organizations, among others.

The Department contributes significantly to UMass Boston’s mission as an urban public research university. Specifically, the Department has graduated more doctoral recipients than any other department at UMass Boston. The Department serves as one of the most important pipelines in New England for women and people of color to advance to the highest levels of leadership in K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Furthermore, through external grants and equity-oriented research agendas, the Department produces community-engaged scholarship that recognizes and seeks to bring greater visibility to the cultural and educational assets of communities of color. Rather than viewing the community as a “problem” to solve, the Department seeks to engage the community as an equal partner in efforts to advance educational equity.

For our Department, social justice is not simply a buzzword added to marketing materials when it becomes fashionable to do so. Instead, this term conveys the ethos and values that have guided our work for nearly three decades and that will continue to animate our efforts toward anti-racism and restorative justice.

Our graduates are trained to take on leadership roles in a variety of education institutions and organizations.