Erin Connor and Michelle Collay present at Northeast Educational Research Association conference

Erin Connor and Michelle Collay

Erin Connor, Ph.D., program manager for the graduate programs in Education in the 91AV College of Graduate and Professional Studies, and Michelle Collay, Ph.D., director of the online doctoral program in Educational Leadership, gave a presentation at the Northeast Educational Research Association conference in Trumbull, Connecticut.

They presented the framework for their ongoing program evaluation of the Education Doctorate, which seeks to learn how graduates characterize their experiences within the program and what evidence graduates provide that demonstrates the benefit or value of their graduate education.

They conducted an online survey of Ed.D. alumni as part of the University's three-year program review cycle. The resulting response data informed their research questions. They will continue with this program review process by conducting interviews of graduates regarding their experiences. Initial findings describe graduates' experience of a stronger knowledge base, the importance of the Ed.D. credential to their career opportunities and the experience of increased credibility and confidence.

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About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.