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Congratuations to our Spring 2026 graduates

Advice from Our May Graduates

Advice from our May graduates

Enjoy the coursework and recognize how course content and assignments can support your dissertation in practice. Early identification of your problem of practice can help alleviate stress later in the program. Connect with your dissertation advisor early and frequently, as this can help you manage your time and priorities.

--Dr. Collin Palmer

I would advise newer students to pursue research interests in fields that promote intellectual growth and curiosity. Construct a committee that will push you to heights you didn't know were possible. Enjoy the process!

--Dr. Tadarrelle Lett

The first advice I would give to the newer members is to be flexible and be open-minded to possible changes to the original idea of their dissertation topic. The courses in the program and sudden career moves or changes can affect their original dissertation ideas. Second, it is important to carve out your own journey in the program, as everyone’s journey and study pace will differ in completing it.

--Dr. Joseph Kang

Intentionally align every course assignment with your problem of practice from the beginning—those small connections accumulate and significantly reduce dissertation stress later. Use coursework as an opportunity to explore, pilot, and refine ideas grounded in your professional context, especially through literature reviews and applied projects that can later form the foundation of your dissertation. Keep a running document of sources, notes, analytic memos, and reflections so your learning builds coherently over time. Finally, approach the EdD as an iterative journey of becoming a scholar‑practitioner; clarity and confidence emerge through revisiting, revising, and deepening your thinking across the program.

--Dr. Jason Hale

As you move through the process remember to give yourself grace, there will be days that you feel spent but persevere-- it will be worth it in the end! And remember you are becoming the expert on your topic, so own it.

--Dr. Danielle Green-Welch

My biggest advice would be to work closely with your advisor to ensure that you have goals set. Setting goals, sticking to my calendar, and frequent communication with my advisor really helped me stay on track!

--Dr. Roy Greenlee

To help not get stressed or intimidated about the program, I frequently reminded myself that a doctorate is not a life-or-death endeavor. I could quit at any time and still reap the benefits of even a limited experience with the program. It also helped to think of the work as a hobby. Part of this involved getting "creature comforts" lined up before a study session - wrapping up in a blanket while drinking tea from my favorite mug helped me relish the evenings of reading and writing!

--Dr. Marcie Denton

This program will challenge you in ways you may not expect. My own journey included navigating family illness and demanding work projects, and it wasn’t a straight path—but those experiences pushed me to grow in ways I never anticipated. Lean on your classmates and mentors, stay consistent even during difficult seasons, and remind yourself why you started when the workload feels overwhelming. In the end, you’ll be proud not only of what you learned in your field, but of the resilience you built along the way.

--Dr. Peggy Coyne

Dr. Mandy Cenker Earns Outstanding Instructor Award

At the end of the spring semester, our own Dr. Mandy Cenker was awarded the College’s Outstanding Adjunct Instructor Award!

Here is what Dr. Scott Durham, Awards Committee Chair, had to say about Dr. Cenker: “Dr. Cenker demonstrates exceptional commitment to teaching, innovation, and service that benefits all of her students and beyond. Her students leave her class with practical strategies they can use in schools and in the leadership roles they already hold or will rise to in the years to come. Dr. Cenker regularly calls on her own practical experiences in leadership in education as examples. She has developed more than 20 microcredentials that cover everything from educational technology to professional skill development. By doing so, she has offered workforce-aligned educational pathways for Ohio’s future educational leaders.”

News and Achievements from Students and Alumni

Michael Hollins was awarded the Drug Education and Life Skills Grant by the Mid-American Conference (MAC). This grant will be used to help student-athletes build confidence in transitioning from athletic identity to career identity. Also, it will strengthen student-athletes’ professional development skills, such as networking, communication, and career readiness.

Daniel Diaz Nilsson recently assumed the role of Chief Research & Impact Officer at College Now (collegenowgc.org) in Cleveland, Ohio, where he leads research, evaluation, and strategic impact efforts, including the development of a new Center of Excellence to advance postsecondary access and success.

Randa Nemer Shaheen had the pleasure to speak at the Barberton ESL and World Language event alongside ����ԭ�� student, employee, and Barberton graduate, Mavis Sugden. Randa shares, “It was a full circle moment because I taught Mavis English, and she shared about how the English Learner program at Barberton made an impact in her life to bring her where she is today at ����ԭ��. Students, families, and staff members from the Barberton community joined together to celebrate the event, ‘The Culture Within Me,’ with activities, food, and speakers.”

Paris Lampkins received a Women of Note Award from Mavens and Mimosas on March 7. In addition, she was selected for the inaugural 2026 Cleveland Catalysts Leadership Cohort through the Cleveland Leadership Center. Paris is also currently scaling her consulting practice, Lampkins & Co.

Alumna Tabitha Messmore presented with Dr. Levinson and two additional doctoral students on a panel at the Philosophy of Education Society (PES) conference in Pittsburgh in March. She also presented a working paper session at PES. Tabitha also accepted a position on PES’s Committee on Gender, Sexuality, and the Status of Women (CGSSW). Additionally, Tabitha also co-presented a poster and Lightning Talk at this year’s Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association.

Student profile - Monty Pender

Pender holds a Master of Business Administration from Ashland University and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management from Malone University. He also earned an Associate of Science in Electronics Technology from DeVry University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Interprofessional Leadership at ����ԭ��, where his research focuses on housing literacy and tenant advocacy.

In addition to his professional work, Pender is actively engaged in civic and community leadership. He served as Vice President of the local NAACP chapter and previously served as a Civil Service Commissioner for the City of Canton. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Did You Know?

����ԭ��’s official mascot may be Flash, the golden eagle, but an unofficial bushy-tailed mascot scurries up trees and scuttles across campus on a daily basis. Squirrels may be small, but their presence on campus is large. It started in 1961, when 10 rare black squirrels were imported from Canada by Larry Woodell, ����ԭ��’s superintendent of grounds, and M.W. Staples, a retired executive of the Davey Tree Expert Company, headquartered in Kent, Ohio. When first released, the large, black-spiked squirrels were frequently mistaken for skunks. Today, they own the campus. The university honors them each fall with the Black Squirrel Festival, a day-long event that started in 1981.