Planning, Leading, and Evolving: Exploring Doctoral Community College Leadership Programs

• In Event: Power and Possibilities in the Community College Context

Abstract

Doctoral-level community college leadership (CCL) programs have existed for decades, serving the needs of aspiring and rising community college administrators. Yet scholarship has yet to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with leading these programs to serve students’ varied needs. This case study, which entailed interviewing seven program directors and 16 alumni from those programs, examines how CCL programs’ processes contribute to programmatic priorities, curriculum, and evolution. Findings indicate how program directors value alumni in giving feedback to programs that inspire curricular changes and recruitment strategies, yet also must account for internal, political tensions amongst faculty. Students benefit from programs that boast real-world professional application, necessitating programs act swiftly in serving current, ever-evolving needs that leaders face.

Authors

• Jonathan T. Pryor, California State University - Fresno

• Brett Ranon Nachman, University of Pittsburgh