Welcome to the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership at Sul Ross State University.
It is both an honor and a profound responsibility to serve as the founding Program Director for the first doctoral program in the history of this university. Sul Ross has long stood as a beacon for learners and leaders across the Big Bend, the Borderlands, and the diverse rural communities of West Texas. With the launch of this program, we take a bold and deliberate step toward realizing the full promise of our mission – expanding opportunity, empowering transformative leadership, and advancing the kind of impact our region and state urgently need.
The creation of this Ed.D. program represents more than the addition of a new degree. It is a commitment to the educators, administrators, and community leaders who shape the futures of the students and families we serve. Designed intentionally for working professionals, this program is rooted in improvement science, grounded in authentic problems of practice, and aligned with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). Here, theory and practice intersect in meaningful, actionable ways to support leaders who are ready to drive continuous improvement and systemic change.
As a doctoral candidate, you will join a dedicated cohort of scholar-practitioners who bring their experience, passion, and aspirations to the collective learning journey. You will be challenged to think critically, to lead with clarity and conviction, and to apply rigorous inquiry to the real and complex issues facing your schools and communities. Every course, every milestone, and every conversation is designed to support your growth as a leader who not only understands the work of change – but embodies it.
We invite you to become part of something historic and deeply consequential.
As a member of our inaugural and future cohorts, you will help shape the culture, scholarship, and impact of a program built for the frontier – geographically, intellectually, and morally. Your work here will not only advance your professional path; it will contribute to a legacy that strengthens the educational landscape of the region and elevates the mission of Sul Ross State University for generations to come.
Thank you for considering this journey. I look forward to walking alongside you as you pursue meaningful, lasting, and far-reaching change.
Dr. John Decman
Program Director,
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Sul Ross State University
john.decman@sulross.edu
