Higher Education, PhD

Students in a classroom.

Our doctoral program in higher education will prepare you for a variety of professional paths, including leadership positions in college and university administration, higher education faculty and policy research. Our program focuses on issues of concern to scholars and leaders in all types of higher education institutions. Given the variety of positions that you can pursue post-graduation, your advisor will work individually with you to craft a course of study and pursue experiences that will help you meet your individual goals.

On this page:

Why Higher Education at UB?

The features of our program include:

  • application of theory and research methods to the study of higher education
  • commitment to issues of equity, diversity, justice and inclusion, and the development of multculturally competent higher education professionals
  • emphasis on interdisciplinary work that allows researchers to develop new insights for the scholarship of higher education
  • flexible curriculum that allows you to concentrate on areas of special interest
  • focus on the broad foundations and contexts, as well as the critical contemporary issues of higher education
  • frequent and close collaboration with prominent faculty, knowledgeable professionals and community leaders
  • strategic links with Western New York's 32 two- and four-year colleges and universities, numerous school districts and other educational settings that offer abundant research, practice and professional opportunities

Program Overview

Academic credential granted Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Credits required for completion 72
Time to completion 4 to 5+ years
Course delivery On campus
Careers
  • senior college and university leadership
  • mid-career higher education administrator
  • faculty in higher education
  • researcher for local, state and federal education policy organizations
Application deadline Fall: Jan. 1

Program Faculty

Nathan J. Daun-Barnett

Nathan J. Daun-Barnett

Associate Professor
Educational Leadership And Policy

468 Baldy Hall North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1096

Email: nbarnett@buffalo.edu

Research Areas: Access and Equity; Economics of Education; Educational Change; Educational Policy; Equity and Poverty; Gamification; Higher Education; Organizational Change; Program Evaluation; Quantitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; School Counseling; Sociology of Education; Urban Education

Megan M. Iantosca

Megan M. Iantosca

Associate Professor
Educational Leadership And Policy

477 Baldy Hall North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1095

Email: mmhollan@buffalo.edu

Research Areas: Access and Equity; Achievement; Diversity; Educational Policy; Equity and Poverty; Ethnography; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Higher Education; Organizational Change; Qualitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Sociology of Education; Urban Education

Raechele L. Pope

Raechele L. Pope

Professor
Educational Leadership And Policy

Professor
Dean's Office

482 Baldy Hall North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1098

Email: rlpope@buffalo.edu

Research Areas: Access and Equity; Administration/Management; Cultural Competence and Humility; Diversity; Equity and Poverty; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Higher Education; Leadership; Multicultural Competence; Organizational Change; Race, Inequality, and Education; Racism and AntiBlackness; Social Justice

Margaret Sallee

Margaret Sallee

Professor
Educational Leadership And Policy

473 Baldy Hall North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1091

Email: mwsallee@buffalo.edu

Research Areas: Gender Studies; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Higher Education; Leadership; Organizational Change; Qualitative Research Methods

Stephen Santa-Ramirez, PhD

Stephen Santa-Ramirez, PhD

Assistant Professor
Educational Leadership And Policy

482 Baldy Hall North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Email: srsantar@buffalo.edu

Research Areas: Access and Equity; Diversity; Higher Education; Immigrant Issues; Legal Issues; Race, Inequality, and Education

Paris D. Wicker

Paris D. Wicker

Assistant Professor
Educational Leadership And Policy

475 Baldy Hall North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1214

Email: pariswic@buffalo.edu

Research Areas: Access and Equity; Critical Policy Analysis; Discourse analysis; Diversity; Gender, Culture, and Equity; Higher Education; Mental Health; Mindfulness; Qualitative Research Methods; Quantitative Research Methods; Race, Inequality, and Education; Racism and AntiBlackness; Research Design; Social Justice; Wellness

Frequently Asked Questions

We have a collection of frequently asked questions that may help you. If your questions are still unanswered, we are glad to help! Contact our admission office.

Questions About the Admission Process?

Graduate School of Education
366 Baldy Hall, North Campus
716-645-2110
gseinfo@buffalo.edu