Crystallizing Vision, Empowering Change
The Doctoral Program is celebrating an important milestone – 15 years since its founding in 2010, in partnership with PNW BOCES. A 15th anniversary is symbolized by crystals – an important representation of the doctoral program’s growth and change, which is briefly described here.
The vision for the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership began more than 15 years ago with an idea to prepare leaders among leaders to serve the region. The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership was born in 2010 with 2 cohorts recruited in that first year. We are currently recruiting cohort 17 to start in fall 2025 in what is now referred to as the Signature pathway, serving aspiring or current leaders in PK12 who are empowering change in the region and beyond.
A few years later, a seed of an idea was planted for how to serve the many who started Doctoral Programs in Educational Leadership but whose dream of a completed dissertation had been deferred. Inspired by the vision of Dr. Yiping Wan (then doctoral program director), another EdD pathway (then named Executive EdD) emerged, with the first cohort starting in January of 2014. Now known as the Dissertation Completion Pathway, doctoral candidates transfer to Manhattanville and receive the support to finish their degree and achieve their deferred dream. Individuals interested in this synchronous online degree pathway can apply to start in July 2025.
In 2016, recognizing growing interest from educational leaders in colleges and universities, the vision expanded. A curricular concentration in higher education was approved, and the HigherEd Leadership pathway was launched in 2017 with 2 cohorts recruited in its initial year. We are currently recruiting cohort 10 to start in fall 2025. This 100% synchronous online pathway to the doctoral program serves higher education leaders across the U.S.
Crystals, the symbol of a 15 year anniversary, is appropriate since, like the doctoral program, crystals are ever changing shape and growing. Crystals never develop a fixed or “perfect” shape because – like educational leaders – they are responsive to their surroundings, drawing upon resources in their environments. Celebrating our 15th year, the doctoral program, now proudly boasts over 180 alumni and 170 doctoral students in the region, across the U.S., and around the world. Over the 12 months of 2025, we will mark this crystal anniversary with alumni testimonials, doctoral spotlights, oral histories, and more to showcase the contributions of how educational leaders are empowering change.
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.
