Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduated its second class of students to earn the doctor of education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership Saturday, May 10. The 11 graduates received their doctoral hoods the previous day at the Morris University Center on campus.
All of the graduates have significant school leadership positions in the bi-state region. They include:
- Dennis Cramsey – principal, Edwardsville High School
- Lori Franke-Hopkins – superintendent, Jersey Community Unit School District
- Pamela Leonard-Kukorola – superintendent, Harmony Emge School District
- Tanya Patton – principal, Nelson Elementary School (Edwardsville)
- John Pearson – superintendent, East Alton-Wood River Community High School District
- Beth Renth – principal, Worden Elementary School (Edwardsville)
- Patrick Shelton – principal, Hanna Woods Elementary School (Parkway School District, Ballwin, Mo.)
- Cornelia Smith – principal, LeClaire Elementary School (Edwardsville)
- Nancy Spina – assistant superintendent for personnel, (Edwardsville School District)
- Hillary Stanifer – principal, Liberty Middle School (Edwardsville)
- Tara Wells – principal, Goshen Elementary School (Edwardsville)
The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Program at SIUE is designed for practicing P-12 school administrators who want to pursue careers as superintendents or school district leaders. Through doctoral study, they develop expertise in using research to make system-wide changes that benefit all students within the school district.