Congratulations to Iskra D. Hernández Rosado who on Thursday, July 31, 2025 successfully defended her dissertation proposal. The title of Iskra’s dissertation is "A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF LEADING ADAPTIVE CHANGE: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GENAI IN STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES."
As leaders implement Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) at community colleges, specifically in student affairs and enrollment management, it is important to understand the specific strategies leaders employ to manage the complex organizational change required for its successful integration in this unique higher education context. This qualitative study aims to describe how community college leaders manage change while navigating the complexities of implementing GenAI practices. Such changes are viewed as adaptive (versus technical), meaning a complex or difficult situation that is hard to define, and solutions that are not easy to resolve. Guided by Kurt Lewin’s three-stage change model (unfreezing, changing, and refreezing) the study examines the processes and strategies leaders use to prepare for, implement, and sustain AI-driven change. The findings are intended to offer practical insights for leaders and contribute to the scholarly understanding of technology adoption and change management in resource-constrained educational environments. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom, with a purposeful sample of 12–15 leaders from U.S. community colleges who have direct responsibility for implementing GenAI technologies in student support services.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Dr. Susan Iverson
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Robert Mangione
Dr. Ruben Barato
Take Your Career to the Next Level
Elevate your leadership skills, deepen your understanding of critical and contemporary education issues, and learn to help solve the current challenges in P-20 education.
Learn to Inspire Change
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville, offered in partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, utilizes a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership that is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders in any educational context. It is designed to support the goals of educational professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills for career advancement or current job enhancement.
