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Outstanding Dissertations
The top honors of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program, the Outstanding Dissertation Award, and the Graduate with Distinction Award are bestowed upon the program's top graduates for excellence in scholarship and leadership.
About the Awards
Each year the Doctorate in Educational Leadership program bestows two awards upon its top graduates, Graduate with Distinction and Outstanding Dissertation (K–12 & Higher Education).
Graduation with Distinction
Our highest honor is Graduation with Distinction, for it represents the top 10% of the graduating class. The Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program awards the Sacramento State University graduation with distinction designation on the graduate’s official transcript.
Outstanding Dissertation
Awarded for K–12 & Higher Education; the outstanding dissertations are selected each spring semester based on the quality of the research design, quality of the written analysis and summary of findings, and the potential of the dissertation results for transformation of schools and colleges. A central focus of this awards is on the originality of the work, mastery of knowledge of the discipline, and broader significance as a contribution to learning.
2024 Outstanding Dissertations
— GRADUATE with DISTINCTION —
Cassandra R. Henderson, Ed.D.
Maria Ximena Ospina Salcedo, Ed.D.
— OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION: TK–12 —
Ana Maria Farina De Ramirez, Ed.D.
Maestros Sin Papeles: Chicana/Latina Feminist Testimonios of DACAmented Educators
— OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION: Higher Education —
Lindsay Thu Dao, Ed.D.
But What if I Succeed? A Portraiture Study on Bicultural Identity, Major Choice, and Academic Persistence
2023 Outstanding Dissertations
Watch the top graduates of the Sacramento State Ed.D. program for 2023 present an overview of their award-winning research.
This year's panel was hosted by Dr. Rose Borunda
— GRADUATE with DISTINCTION —
Veunta Dailey, Ed.D.
A qualitative study to examine how nontraditional African American women draw from community cultural wealth to persist in higher education
Rachel Stewart, Ed.D.
Nothing about us without us: A qualitative inquiry of disabled student activists creating disability cultural centers on college campuses
— OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION: TK–12 —
Freddy Castro, Ed.D.
Urban schoolsite teacher of color stories to stay or leave by: Examining teacher of color retention through narrative inquiry
— OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION: Higher Education —
Haley Myers Dillon, Ed.D.
Justice for moms in college: Investigating factors that influence student-parents' degree completion timelines
Erik Ramirez Garcia, Ed.D.
Undocu-access to higher education: Examining the initial impact of the Dream Builders Program on undocumented students and individuals who support them
2022 Outstanding Dissertations
Thursday, September 15 | 5:30–7 pm | Online via Zoom
Join the top graduates of the Sacramento State Ed.D. program for 2022 as they present an overview of their award-winning research.
This year's panel will be hosted by Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, Chair of the Outstanding Dissertation Committee.
— GRADUATE with DISTINCTION —
Jenna Tryon Polhemus
Respect: A School-Wide Support Towards A Positive School Climate
Elizabeth Hendrick
A Seat At The Table: How Districts Engage Stakeholders During LCAP Development And Decision Making
— OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION: TK–12 —
Amber Bradley
Liberation Through Abolition: An Analysis Of The Reallocation Of Police Funds In Three California Public School Districts
— OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION: Higher Education —
Jazmin Campos
Stress Experiences In Diverse College Students: Testing The Stress Process Model
2022 OD Panel Recording
2021 Outstanding Dissertations
Thursday, September 9 | 6–8 pm | Online via Zoom
Join the top graduates of the Sacramento State Ed.D. program for 2020 & 2021 as they present an overview of their award-winning research.
This year's panel will be hosted by Dr. Caroline Turner, the creator of the Outstanding Dissertation award. Dr. Turner launched the Oustanding Dissertation award in 2012 to honor the fantastic work produced by the Sacramento State Ed.D. students. As Dr. Turner prepares for retirement, we are honored to have her host the awards she helped bring to fruition.
Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Billingsley
“Students Like You Get in the Way“: Examining Nontraditional Student Perceptions of Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Cassie Donnelly
Guiding the Path to Institutional Change: Examining Community College Leaders’ Role in Facilitating Guided Pathways Framework
Dr. Nathan J. Dutra
Including the Deaf Child at the Dinner Table: When and Why Hearing Parents Learn Sign Language
Dr. Meredith Galloway
Teacher Push Out: Lower Wages, Longer Hours, and State Freeriding on Teachers
Dr. Khanh Dinh
Racial diversity leadership index: A model for employee retention
Dr. Kristen Tudor
Communication And Trust In Higher Education: How Leadership Communication Shapes Faculty Trust In Administrators