1. was planned with strong input from field-based practitioners,
2. is governed with strong input from practitioners, and
3. will be evaluated using input from practitioners.

The Educational Leadership Department, which is the home for the Ed.D. program, has a strong practitioner focus.  Every faculty member has extensive leadership experience in K-12 schools.

Practitioners have been very involved in the planning for the degree.   In a series of focus group meetings the following districts were represented:

• Recognize that adult learners have many strengths and many demands on their time.
• Improve skills as change agents, instructional leadership, use of data to drive change, etc.
• Connect academic assignments to the professional work of the students.
• Provide early and on-going support for development of dissertations.
• Applicants should have significant experience in the field/experience as a leader.

Practitioners are also equally represented on the Executive Committee, Admission Committee and the Program Advisory Board.

These practitioners participated in the development of the Ed.D. for CSUF:

• Janice Billings, Ph.D., ACSA Region XVII
• Austin Buffum, Ph.D., Capistrano USD
• Marc Ecker, Ph.D. Fountain Valley SD
• George Giokaris, Ed.D., Fullerton JUHSD
• Jerome Hunter, N. OC Community College District
• Kathleen Hodge, Fullerton College
• Christina Lunceford, Concordia University
• Ray Maghoori, Riverside Community College District
• Gwen Plano, Irvine Valley College
• Joe Quarles, Coast Community College District
• Juan Vasquez, Santiago Canyon College
• Ken Yglasias, Coast Community College District