The requirement that a doctoral dissertation must contribute an original body of knowledge can present a quandary to the doctoral candidate, how does one pursue this route without embracing risk? Through reflective storytelling, this narrative delves into the transformative journey of a teacher-researcher navigating the doctoral study environment.…

I began my higher academic journey as a student of political science and history, aiming to engage with and improve my communities. However, by 2016, I became disillusioned with my work in politics and left to pursue a career in education, focusing on developing civic education for my students. The University of South Carolina's EdD program, with…

This essay discusses the impact of a diversity and social justice course on the assessment philosophy and practice of an early-career higher education assessment professional. The author, who directs institutional assessment practices at a public 4-year institution in the northeastern United States and is pursuing an online doctorate in higher…

Mid-career teachers are at a pivotal point in their practitioner journeys when they can either shift towards winding down in preparation for retirement or ramping up to assume new teacher-leadership roles. Opportunities to become teacher-leaders can revitalize mid-career educators' practice in ways that ultimately benefit their schools and…

Social studies classrooms can serve as sites of educator activism. This reflective article traces one educator's formation as an educator-activist and links biography to classroom practice and program design. An early love of history--nurtured by wide reading and influential secondary teachers of U.S. history and English--anchored a commitment to…

This article is a reflection on the journey through the process of my doctoral studies. Published dissertations or research articles are very neat and tidy with no mention of any adversity or struggle. Hence why many doctoral students feel stressed, anxiety, or like quitting when obstacles or roadblocks are encountered. My doctoral program took…

Presented as a collection of short essays, the authors of this article reflect on their experience in the University of Hawaii at Manoa EdD program and the questions, "What have you been able to take away from the experience?" and "What are you doing now that the EdD made possible?" The authors entered the program with a wealth…

Training clinical psychologists to be able to work with those who will use their services in ways that are not 'othering' or stigmatising and that facilitate a safe, compassionate and accepting place from where psychological therapy can be undertaken, is an essential task for trainers. Although simulation training is widely used in some healthcare…

This paper will provide insight into the reflective practice that a professional doctorate (EdD) encourages, and how such reflection can affect the professional practice of professional services staff. It concludes with my reflections on how undertaking an EdD has been beneficial, and the self-awareness that I have achieved both from the programme…

Community-engaged research is a collaboration between academic and community partners to create and disseminate knowledge for both academic and community benefit (Carnegie Foundation, 2018). Partnering with community members in research differs from traditional research at almost every point in the process, including deciding which research…

The learning curve on how to become a Teaching Assistant (TA) can be rather steep. In this paper, the authors explore three areas they wish they were advised in prior to beginning their teaching careers. The lessons are centered on balancing expectations and responsibilities in the following areas: 1) prioritizing their own work and research over…

For this collection of articles celebrating the 50th anniversary of the American Educational Studies Association, I was invited to contribute a narrative detailing my history and relationship to the field, influences to my development as a scholar, the state of the field during my presidency, and any advice or guidance I might share with current…

In this opinion paper we introduce a school-wide concept at doctoral level aimed at professional practitioners, who wish to stay in their respective areas of work. The rationale behind this school-wide concept is that in Hungary, where its implementation is currently in progress, gaining a PhD automatically means becoming an academic. However,…

Doctoral programmes in which candidates research their own practice can be characterised as having transdisciplinary (TD) qualities. While most of the emphasis in the literature and in policy on TD is on research in teams, we argue for an expansion of the scope in the conception and understanding of TD research to include the way it can be…

The author has been working for over four decades in the field of early childhood education (ECE). She is currently entering her fifth year as an early childhood teacher educator with the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM) College of Education. In her role, the author is teaching future professionals in a dual degree program with a preschool…