LEAD Research Paper

It is with great enthusiasm that I am applying for the LEAD Ed.D. Higher Education Administration at the University of Florida. I am truly excited about the opportunity to learn more about higher education, as well as take the next step towards my goal of becoming a senior level college administrator. I am grateful to have had several educational and professional opportunities that have prepared me to contribute to the LEAD program as a doctoral candidate and keep up with the rigors of a graduate program at the University of Florida. I believe that the LEAD program’s curriculum will prepare me to lead not only within my institution, but in my community as well.

Professionally, I would like to join the University of Florida’s LEAD program to continue my goal of being a life-long learner, and gain as much knowledge as I can that will allow me to continue to be effective in my capacity at Valencia College as a Manager of Learning Support. I would also like to continue to strengthen my
awareness of contemporary trends within our field and contribute to the overall mission and purpose of the profession. After completing the LEAD program, I would like to someday become a Campus Dean of Learning Support or Campus President, while continuing my role as an adjunct faculty member as well.

As a graduate student at the University of Central Florida, I had the opportunity to complete my studies while working in a full time position with the Student Development department at Valencia College.
This experience exposed me to the hard work and sacrifice that is required while engaging in graduate studies as a working professional. While challenging, I am incredibly grateful for my time in the University of Central Florida’s Higher Education and Policy Studies program. It taught me how to think critically about the issues we face in our field, and provided me with critical competencies needed to work with a number of different cultures, lifestyle, beliefs, and backgrounds in a higher education setting. Classes such as Theories of College Student Development, Ethical & Legal Issues in Higher Education, and Organization & Administration in Higher Education deepened my understanding of our field and what it takes to be catalyst for change as a practitioner on college
campuses.

I firmly believe that the LEAD Ed.D. program is perfect for both my current and future academic and professional goals. I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to become a member of a program that is spoken so highly of amongst my peers. I also am drawn to the fact that your program takes the working professional into consideration, allowing for interaction with other students through a cohort model, in a hybrid format. I hope that you will not only afford me the opportunity to continue my education at your institution, but the chance to continue my academic journey in a field that has given so much to me professionally, academically, and personally.