Our classes focus on frameworks for leadership and research that encourage students to explore ideas that are appropriate for their workplace or interests. By discussing, applying, and reviewing these frameworks, students delve into understanding various approaches to common leadership and research problems.
Dr. Kirsten Brown’s research agenda engages topics of disability, educational access, and postsecondary outcomes. Dr. Brown is interested in neurodiversity and practices that support the retention and success of students with disabilities in postsecondary education. Selected publications include a co-authored book, Disability in Higher Education: A Social Justice Approach and articles in the Journal of College Student Development, Journal of Higher Education, Journal of Community College Research and Practice and Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. Dr. Brown’s teaching background is in Higher Education Administration, Sociology, and Disability Studies; she teaches research methodology courses for the Ed.D. Program. Dr. Brown is active in several professional organizations and has presented nationally at ASHE, AHEAD, and ACPA. She holds an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University.
Brian S. Busler is a recently retired school superintendent from Oregon School District and has over thirty-five years of experience as an administrator. He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and a master’s degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In 1992, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. His researched focused on strategic planning, decision-making and school culture. He has taught graduate classes at Edgewood College and other universities for the past thirty years. His public-school experiences include improving educational outcomes for all students, leading numerous school/community planning sessions, advancing equity work, leading school referenda and construction projects, mentoring and training school administrators and a special interest of serving as a Schools of Hope mentor in his previous district. In his free time, you can find him spending time with his wife and adult children, training on his bicycle and fly fishing in Wisconsin and Montana.
Dr. Lee’s research focuses on evaluating and resolving the challenges empirical researchers may encounter in data analysis, such as evaluating the violation of normality assumption and obtaining trustworthy conclusions when complex statistical models are adopted with a small sample size. She enjoys collaborating with empirical researchers and has worked with researchers in the fields of educational leadership, policy analysis, health education, psychology, human development, and disabilities. She has a M.S. in Psychology from Chengchi University in Taiwan, focusing on psychometrics, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on statistical methods.
Suzanne serves as the Director of the EdD and MA Educational Leadership programs. She leads the EdD Research and Writing Center by coordinating consultation and academic writing programming. She is also a Sr. Lecturer who teaches courses in both the Higher Education and Leadership Studies and Doctoral Completion concentrations. Suzanne’s research interests focus on gender inclusive leadership, ethical leadership, and ethical leadership development. She brings over 20 years teaching experience that spans from 6th grade to post-secondary education and in diverse settings. She is a first-generation student who earned her BA from the College of St. Benedict, her MA from Cardinal Stritch University, and her EdD from Edgewood College.
Dr. Trueblood brings over 25 years of experience in K-12 education. Having served as a chemistry teacher, high school associate principal and principal, superintendent, assistant clinical professor, and consultant, she brings knowledge, experience, and acumen to teaching courses in the K-12 Educational Leadership, Higher Education and Leadership Studies and Doctoral Completion concentrations. She holds a BS in chemistry education from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, MS in administrative leadership and supervision from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and PhD from Cardinal Stritch University in leadership for the advancement of learning and service. Dr. Trueblood’s research interests include developing effective organizations, strategic thinking, success habits, gender and color biases, mentoring models, systemic partnerships, and societal values, policies, and practices. Her favorite vacation spot is where minds meet.
Dr. Reno D. Wright is a native of Detroit, MI and has over 20 years of professional leadership and training experience in Workforce Development, Human Services, and Adult Education. His research interests include traditional versus historical critical interpretive methods used in Christian Education; Black Church history; Black Liberation, Womanist, and Queer theologies; Queer Theory; and the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexual orientation and identity. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication at Michigan State University, a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) at Edgewood College. Dr. Wright is passionate about social justice, the exploration of systems that have historically marginalized individuals, and empowerment through education. He is also a pastor at Grace United Church of Christ in Milwaukee, WI.
Sarah Skoy (she/her/hers) is a graduate assistant and an EdD student in the Higher Education and Leadership Studies track at Edgewood College. Her research interests are understanding the conditions under which undergraduate college students thrive. Sarah works at Hamilton College as the Associate Director of Outdoor Leadership. She has a Master’s degree in Adventure Education with Prescott College and a Bachelor of Business Administration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When not at work or studying for her EdD, Sarah enjoys hiking, skiing, canoeing, and rock climbing. She lives in Clinton, New York with her wife and daughter.
For over 20 years, the Ed.D. Program at Edgewood College has guided students to successful dissertation defense and degree completion. Our graduation rate is about 80%, well-above the national average. One element to helping students succeed lies in the dissertation support they receive.
Margene Anderson teaches Ed880: Dissertation Writing and serves on the Edgewood Ed.D. advising team. Margene has spent over two decades as an educator, first as an English Teacher and Library Media and Technology Teacher in K-12, and then as a Sr. Teaching and Learning Consultant at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Margene recently accepted a position as the UW School of Veterinary Medicine's Educational Advancement and Faculty Development Director where she leads educational research, faculty mentoring, and professional development initiatives. Margene's research is focused on clinical reasoning, health professions education, and instructional methods in higher education. Margene holds a Lifetime Teaching License, B.S. in Secondary Education and English from UW - Madsion, a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from UW - Whitewater, a license in administration and Ed.D. in Higher Education and Leadership Studies from Edgewood College.
Dr. Houseman brings years of classroom teaching experience from the elementary to graduate school level, as well as experience in curriculum development and assessment. She has been editing doctoral dissertations for more than 10 years and remains committed to researching, organizing, and writing strong, logical, and clearly worded dissertations. Dr. Houseman graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a B.S. degree in Education with teaching concentrations in English and Social Studies and has received an M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Reading. In addition, she received a licensure certification in Educational Administration and Curriculum from Edgewood College. She also received a doctoral degree from Edgewood College in Educational Leadership. Her professional interests include the development of literacy and discipline-area literacy strategies, professional development to support literary development, and curriculum development and assessment strategies.
Dr. Lynea LaVoy's experiences in the business sector has afforded her the versatility to be an effective leader in the focused areas of hospitality management, servant leadership, higher education, communications, and organizational effectiveness. She currently serves as Department Chair, Program Director and Instructor for Madison College's Hospitality Management program. Lynea dedicates herself to a student-first focused teaching and advising approach and was awarded the 2020 President's Award for Service, 2018 NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award as well as the 2017 Excellence in Teaching, National Society of Leadership and Success. Lynea holds her Doctoral Degree from Edgewood College as well as two Master's Degrees and an undergraduate degree. Lynea is dedicated to serving the community through her vast work with the Oregon Area Food Pantry. Lynea also recently started a podcast called Pineapple Sessions where she discusses and interviews industry leaders on topics such as hospitality, servant leadership, and education. Lynea's work in her role as Doctoral Liaison and Advisor for Edgewood College has allowed her to collaborate with and serve over 30 candidates working on their Higher Education pathways.
Mankah Zama Mitchell has worked with students as an editor and liaison in the Ed.D program since 2016. She earned her B.S. from Howard University, and her J.D./Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research interests include school law related topics, and she is an attorney for the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Dr. Muriel Simms is a lifelong resident of Madison, Wisconsin. She retired from the Madison Metropolitan School District in 2000 after 30 years of service. She taught masters-level courses at Edgewood College and is now on the doctoral faculty at Edgewood College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English (1968), master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction (1975), her administrator licenses (1988), and her doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2002). Dr. Simms received many awards for her professional duties and community service, one of which was the Wisconsin Elementary Principal of the Year (1992) given by the Wisconsin Association of Elementary School Principals and the Wisconsin and National School Board Associations. Dr. Simms wrote three articles for peer reviewed journals: A Principal Tutors Four Low Achievers in a Third-Grade Mathematics Classroom” (Elementary School Journal, September, 1994), Impressions of Leadership Through a Native Woman’s Eyes (Urban Education, December, 2000), and Teacher Uses Action Research to Develop Culturally Conscious Curriculum Planners (Democracy & Education, November, 2013). She wrote the book Settlin’: Stories of Madison’s Early African American Families in 2018.
Henry St. Maurice has taught English, special education, and computer science in many settings including elementary and secondary schools as well as rehabilitation programs since his initial licensure in 1969. He has designed, delivered, and evaluated courses in research methodology, teacher induction, supervision of instruction, mentoring, and professional development. He holds B.A. and M.A.T. degrees in comparative literature and English from Wesleyan University (Connecticut), an M. Ed. in special education from the University of Vermont, and a Ph. D. in curriculum & instruction from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
He has participated on editorial boards of Environmental Education Research, International Journal of Leadership in Education, Journal of Curriculum Studies, and Teaching & Teaching Education. He also was an officer of American Educational Research Association Special Interest Groups.
Of his work as an educator, he has said, "As a generalist, I seek knowledge in all fields of study.” His service work with the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy and the Aldo Leopold Foundation are examples of places where disciplined research joins with creative expression to produce knowledge, inform policy, and develop practice.
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