Stories of Becoming: Identity Formation of Practitioner Scholars as Agents of Change

• In Event: Leadership at the Intersections: Navigating Identity, Representation, and Equity in Educational Leadership

Abstract

This study explores how first-year students in a CPED-influenced EdD program tell stories about their identities as practitioner scholars and agents for change. Using a qualitative case study approach, we analyze stories from eight diverse educational professionals through artifacts, discussions, and interviews. Initial findings reveal three key patterns: embracing institutional identity narratives, challenging conventional educational perspectives, and actively negotiating professional identities—bridging current and aspirational selves. These patterns demonstrate how EdD students synthesize scholarly insights with practical knowledge, potentially transforming their roles as educator and leaders. By enhancing our understanding of identity formation in doctoral education, this research may guide program improvements to foster the development of practitioner scholars as agents for change.

Authors

• Angela Hooser, Middle Tennessee State University

• Kevin S. Krahenbuhl, Middle Tennessee State University