The University of Florida’s School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education (HDOSE) is proud to announce that UF’s Educational Leadership and Policy program has been ranked the #2 online graduate program in educational administration in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting over a decade as one of the top ten programs in the country.

This national recognition highlights the program’s longstanding commitment to preparing leaders who advance educational systems across Florida and beyond. Graduates of the Educational Leadership and Policy program go on to shape schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other institutions throughout the education ecosystem. From K–12 school principals to policy researchers to state‑level decision makers, UF-trained leaders are driving meaningful change in communities nationwide.

The Educational Leadership and Policy program offers master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees, delivered in both online and on‑campus formats to meet the needs of future leaders. Coursework blends academic rigor with applied experience, emphasizing skills that position graduates for leadership in an evolving educational landscape. Students benefit from innovative teaching that integrates artificial intelligence, hands‑on consulting partnerships with local nonprofits, and comprehensive training in policy analysis and research methodology.

Dr. Christopher Redding, Section Lead of Educational Leadership and Policy noted: “This national recognition reflects our program’s long-standing commitment to strengthening educational leadership across the state and beyond. Through rigorous research and evidence‑based preparation, our program faculty ensure that educational leaders are equipped to navigate complex policy and administrative challenges. We are proud of the meaningful impact our graduates continue to make in their schools and communities.”

The national ranking reflects the dedication of program faculty to high‑quality instruction, program design, and student support. It also affirms UF’s role as a national leader in preparing educational professionals who use research, technology, and evidence-based practices to strengthen organizations and improve outcomes for students.

About HDOSE

HDOSE faculty research and teach the foundations and structures of educational and community systems for people to thrive in their learning and development. We cultivate researchers, leaders, counselors, and administrators, empowering them to make evidence-based decisions that enhance human potential and educational growth.

To learn more about HDOSE degree programs, click here.

Note. This HDOSE highlights story was written using generative AI-assistance.

The University of Florida’s School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education (HDOSE) is proud to announce that four faculty members have been recognized with prestigious College of Education awards for their outstanding contributions to research and teaching.

Dr. Chris Redding, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, has been awarded the 2025–2027 Rosser Term Professorship, a competitive honor that recognizes faculty for impactful research, teaching, and service and their impact on the discipline.

Dr. Chris Thomas, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, received the 2025 Robert B. Primack Memorial Foundations of Education Endowment Award, which supports scholarship on the social foundations of education.

In recognition of excellence in teaching, two HDOSE faculty members were also honored:

Dr. Mercedes Machado, Clinical Assistant Professor of Counselor Education, was awarded the 2025 Rosser Educator Excellence Award.

Dr. Jinnie Shin, Assistant Professor of Research Evaluation and Methodology, received the 2025 Diane E. Haines Teaching Excellence Award.

These awards reflect HDOSE’s commitment to innovative research and high-impact teaching and the University of Florida’s national leadership in education.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of each of these faculty and their well-deserved recognition for excellence in teaching and research.” said Dr. F. Chris Curran, HDOSE Associate Director. “HDOSE faculty are positively impacting schools and communities across Florida and beyond with their innovative work.”

About HDOSE
HDOSE faculty research and teach the foundations and structures of educational and community systems for people to thrive in their learning and development. We cultivate researchers, leaders, counselors, and administrators, empowering them to make evidence-based decisions that enhance human potential and educational growth.

To learn more about HDOSE degree programs, click here.

Note. This HDOSE highlights story was written using generative AI-assistance.

The University of Florida’s School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education (HDOSE) proudly announces that Dr. Chris Thomas, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, has been named a 2025 National Academy of Education (NAEd) and Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is one of the most competitive early-career awards in the field of education.

Dr. Thomas’s project, titled “The Nurseries of Democracy: Education for Citizenship and the First Amendment Rights of Young Students,” explores how schools navigate the protection of free speech among their youngest learners. Drawing on his background as a former school district attorney, Dr. Thomas brings a unique legal and policy perspective to this timely and critical issue. His work was initially supported by the UF Early Childhood Policy Centers Collaborative through an internal seed-funding grant.

The NAEd/Spencer Fellowship supports innovative research that advances understanding of education across disciplines. Fellows join a distinguished cohort of scholars committed to shaping the future of education through rigorous inquiry and impactful scholarship. Dr. Thomas is the fourth UF scholar to receive this honor, further underscoring the university’s national leadership in education research.

“I’m honored and thrilled to receive this fellowship. It’s incredibly meaningful to be recognized in this way based on my existing and emerging research. I’m humbled to find myself in the company of such esteemed scholars, and I’m excited to grow, contribute, and be challenged in the best possible ways.” said Dr. Thomas.

HDOSE Associate Director, Dr. Chris Curran added, “The NAEd/Spencer Fellowship recognizes the most promising junior scholars in the field. Dr. Thomas’ work is asking the big questions about education and bringing a unique legal perspective to the answers. We are proud of his accomplishment and the impact his work is having on schools and students.”

To learn more about the NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship and view the full list of 2025 fellows, visit the NAEd website.

About HDOSE
HDOSE faculty research and teach the foundations and structures of educational and community systems for people to thrive in their learning and development. We cultivate researchers, leaders, counselors, and administrators, empowering them to make evidence-based decisions that enhance human potential and educational growth. To learn more about HDOSE degree programs, click here.

Note. This HDOSE highlights story was written using generative AI-assistance.

HDOSE Celebrates Inaugural Graduate Student Excellence Award Recipients

The University of Florida’s School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education (HDOSE) proudly announces the recipients of its inaugural Graduate Student Excellence Award, honoring eight outstanding graduate students for their exceptional achievements in coursework, research, and service.

Representing each of the school’s four program areas, the 2025 awardees exemplify the academic excellence, research productivity, leadership, and community engagement that define HDOSE’s mission. The 2025 awardees are:

• Counselor Education: Codee Keighley and Matthew Stock
• Educational Leadership and Policy: Katharine Harris-Walls and Tiffany Tan
• Higher Education Administration: Hope Allchin and Matt Capaldi
• Research and Evaluation Methodology: Anna Pauline Aguinalde and Bowen Wang

This new award was established to recognize graduate students who demonstrate excellence across multiple dimensions of their academic journey. Each recipient was nominated by faculty and selected for their commitment to advancing knowledge, supporting peers, and contributing meaningfully to their field.

HDOSE Associate Director, Dr. F. Chris Curran, noted “Our Graduate Student Excellence Awardees exemplify the oustanding students we have in HDOSE. Not only have they excelled in their academic studies, but they have driven impact in research and practice that are improving education and human development.”

The HDOSE Graduate Student Excellence Award reflects HDOSE’s ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant and impactful academic environment. These students stand as examples of what it means to lead with purpose and integrity and are examples of the emerging researchers and practitioners that make HDOSE a leader in graduate education.

Awardee Profiles in the Words of their Faculty Nominators

Codee Keighley, Counselor Education 

Codee Keighley, a graduate student in the Counselor Education program, exemplifies what it means to be a leader both in and out of the classroom. Though Codee’s intellectual engagement is matched by a strong sense of integrity and a genuine passion for learning, Codee has left a mark on the program through service. Whether mentoring peers, volunteering for events, or stepping up to help with program initiatives, his commitment to service and support of others reflects a deep sense of responsibility and character. He leads with humility, creativity, and purpose. Codee has served as an executive board member on Chi Sigma Iota (Counseling Honor Society), and most recently served as a student rep on the search committee for the program’s recent hire.  

Matthew Stock, Counselor Education

Matthew Stock, a graduate student in the Counselor Education program, has distinguished himself as a model of academic excellence and leadership. His outstanding performance in the classroom reflects a deep intellectual curiosity, disciplined work ethic, and a commitment to the highest standards of scholarship. Matthew also sweetens the pot—quite literally—as he is known to share his love for baking by bringing homemade treats for his peers to enjoy. This thoughtful gesture not only brightens the day of those around him but also reflects his generosity of spirit and caring nature. It is a small but meaningful example of the warmth, kindness, and community-mindedness that define his character. 

Katharine Harris-Walls, Educational Leadership and Policy

Katharine Harris-Walls is a fourth year doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy. During her time at UF, she has co-authored publications in the leading journals in the field including Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, AERA Open, and the Review of Educational Research. She has also emerged as a national leader with the Association for Education Finance and Policy’s graduate student organization, leading mentoring opportunities for graduate students nationwide.  At UF, she has co-led the annual research symposium and served as a collaborative member of many grant funded research projects. She co-developed the online Introduction to Education Policy course for undergraduates in the BAES Program. This fall, she will begin a position as an Assistant Professor with a focus on teaching quantitative methods at Augusta University. 

Tiffany Tan, Educational Leadership and Policy

Tiffany Tan is a fourth year doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy. During her time at UF, she has served as a research assistant on numerous projects, contributing to publications in some of the leading journals in the field including Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. For the past year, she has worked part-time as a policy analyst with the Learning Policy Institute, a position she will assume full-time this fall.  Her work has contributed to our understanding of important issues including the teacher shortage and school staffing issues. 

Hope Allchin, Higher Education Administration 

Hope Allchin is a doctoral student in the Higher Education Administration Program. She has been a major contributor and co-author for numerous high-quality publications, including recent work in Education Finance and Policy and American Educational Research Journal. Hope has also conducted rigorous individual research focused on key issues in higher education policy and leads multiple teams of graduate research assistants on multiple externally funded grant projects.  

Matt Capaldi, Higher Education Administration

Matthew Capaldi is a doctoral student in the higher education administration program. Matthew has been a model for how doctoral students can give back to their program and fellow students. One of the most significant ways that Matthew has contributed has been through his instruction in EDH 7916: Contemporary Research in Higher Education  (“The R Class”). He served as the course’s teaching assistant for one year and as a co-instructor for two years. During his time with EDH7916, Matthew brought real teaching excellence to the table. He went above and beyond his formal responsibilities by jumping in to troubleshoot coding issues during class and holding weekly office hours to provide additional support. When students got stuck, he shared his own early struggles with coding, creating a supportive environment where students felt less intimidated by programming. He also maintained an excellent course website with tutorials and resources that students could access anytime. Beyond the classroom, Matthew has been a constant support for his peers as they learn and grow in their ability to conduct academic research. His service has gone beyond the university as he has facilitated a professional development workshop at the 2024 Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) annual meeting. He also created a program to streamline the process of downloading IPEDS data in Stata and R, an invaluable tool for higher education researchers. 

Anna Pauline Aguinalde, Research Evaluation and Methodology

Pauline began her combined Master’s and Ph.D. program in Research and Evaluation Methodology in Spring 2023 and has demonstrated exceptional success and momentum ever since. She successfully defended her Master’s thesis in Spring 2025. Pauline has quickly established herself as one of the most productive and promising students. She has co-authored a journal article on research methods in Natural Language Processing (Shin & Aguinalde, 2025), published in one of the top-tier journals in the field (Research Methods in Applied Linguistics)—a rare accomplishment for a student at this stage. In addition, she has co-authored four highly competitive conference proceedings, including venues such as Educational Data Mining, Learning Analytics and Knowledge, and IEEE, with Pauline leading three of them as the first author. She has also presented her work at five major international and national conferences and has made substantial contributions to two additional journal articles currently under review. Achieving this level of scholarly productivity within just two years speaks volumes about Pauline’s extraordinary work ethic, creativity, independence, and future potential as a leading junior scholar in the field. 

Bowen Wang Research Evaluation and Methodology

As a doctoral candidate in the program of Research and Evaluation Methodology at the University of Florida, Bowen Wang has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on psychometric models and AI-driven process data analyses. He presented his research at national conferences such as National Council on Measurement in (NCME). He had two competitive psychometrician internships—one at Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and another at National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)—and further contributes to the field by serving as a proposal reviewer for NCME. These accomplishments reflect his strong commitment to advancing both the theory and practice of educational measurement. 

 

About HDOSE
HDOSE faculty research and teach the foundations and structures of educational and community systems for people to thrive in their learning and development. We cultivate researchers, leaders, counselors, and administrators, empowering them to make evidence-based decisions that enhance human potential and educational growth.

To learn more about HDOSE degree programs, click here.

Note. This HDOSE highlights story was written using generative AI-assistance.