(Re)Imagining Doctoral Education: Resisting and Interrogating the PhD/EdD Octopus

Session Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

The purpose of this panel is to share research from diverse scholars seeking to (re)form and (re)imagine doctoral-level education. Specifically, authors take inspiration from William James’ 1903 article “The PhD Octopus” where he describes unethical entanglements between institutions and graduate students in pursuit of academic careers. Each panelist will focus on how doctoral-level education can be (re)imagined to address 21st century challenges that emerge from the complex economic and cultural entanglements of institutions. Following the conference theme, authors will respond to the following questions: “What new questions should we ask of doctoral-level education?” and “How should we ask old questions of doctoral-level education in new ways?”

Sub Unit

• SIG-Philosophical Studies in Education

Chair

• Jessica Heybach, Western Michigan University

Papers

• Doctorates for All: Examining the Mimetic EdD/PhD Octopus - Jessica Heybach, Western Michigan University

• Taming the EdD Cthulhu: The Educational Doctorate for a Liberatory Praxis? - John J. Lupinacci, Washington State University; Alison Happel-Parkins, University of Memphis

• Terror as Resistance: Revisiting the Role of the EdD Dissertation Chair - Austin J. Pickup, Aurora University

• Interrogating the Mega-Monsters of (Un)Ethical Practice in Doctoral Education: Who Released the Kraken? - Pamela J. Konkol, Concordia University - Chicago; Peter Renn, Seattle Pacific University