Zuber Ali will defend his dissertation on September 13th, 2021 at 11am CST. All are welcome to join. Please find the Zoom link below. His topic is:

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN TEACHERS’ EXPERIENCE OF STRUCTURAL RACISM IN PRESERVICE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM

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Gary Brown will defend his dissertation on September 9th, 2021 at 10am CST. All are welcome to join. Please find the Zoom link below. His topic is:

THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY LITERACY ON STUDENT SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM IN A WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE

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Okach Kwot will defend his dissertation on July 22th, 2021 at 2 p.m. CST. All are welcome to join. Please find the Zoom link below. His topic is:

INTERGENERATIONAL CULTURAL CONFLICTS IN PARENTING SECOND-GENERATION ANYUAKS IN MINNESOTA: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

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Chelsie Gaspar will defend her dissertation on July 15thth, 2021 at 11am CST. All are welcome to join. Please find the Zoom link below. Her topic is:

THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF PROFESSORS WITH DISABILITIES: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

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Amy Marie Woxland will defend her dissertation on June 30th, 2021 at 10am CST. All are welcome to join. Please find the Zoom link below. Her topic is:

THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF NOVICE EIGHTH-GRADE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS AS THEY PREPARE THEIR STUDENTS FOR THE MINNESOTA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

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Peter Kazeminejad will defend his dissertation on June 22nd, 2021 at 1pm CST. All are welcome to join. Please find the Zoom link below. His topic is:

VULNERABILITY IN LEADERSHIP: LEVEL OF TRUST AND QUALITY OF LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGES OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

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Olu Oluwatula will defend his dissertation on June 8th, 2021 at 1pm CST. All are welcome to join. Please find the Zoom link below. His topic is:

CULTURAL DIVIDE BETWEEN AFRICAN AMERICANS AND FIRST-GENERATION AFRICANS IN MINNESOTA – AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY

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Meeting ID: 890 5281 3001
Password: 563874

Mathias Gudina will defend his dissertation on May 17th at 1pm Central. The Zoom link is below. All are welcome to attend. His dissertation title is:

INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES AND PRACTICES OF THE OROMO IMMIGRANTS IN MINNESOTA: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY

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Meeting ID: 880 0871 8147
Password: 126096

Charles Eltonga will defend his dissertation on May 14th at 11am Central. Below is the Zoom link. His dissertation title is:

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF FIRST TIME ONLINE LEARNERS AT THE MASTER’S LEVEL AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN MINNESOTA

Charles Eltonga’s Dissertation Defense Zoom Meeting

All are welcome to attend

Register Now

Visit International Symposium on Lasallian Research for more information.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is looking forward to hosting the 9th annual International Symposium on Lasallian Research on its Twin Cities Campus. Given the fact that it was necessary to cancel the Symposium last year, there is a strong desire to gather in person this year. After consulting with representatives of the various regions, it is clear that international travel continues to be uncertain and may, in fact, not be possible. All who can safely attend the 2021 Symposium at Saint Mary’s on Oct. 1-3 are welcome!

For those who cannot attend this year, we encourage you to engage with other Lasallian educators in your region as you are able to do so. We are requesting that each region prepare a recorded video presentation providing an update about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the schools in your region and what your current circumstances may suggest regarding research needs and possibilities. We plan to post these on the symposium website. More details and consultation about this process will be available to you via the contacts below. We already look forward to the 10th Symposium in 2022 at which time we hope to be able to host a truly international gathering.

The theme for the 2021 Symposium is adopted from the recent Declaration following the 45th General Chapter:

The Lasallian Education Mission: Challenges, Convictions, and Hopes.

Like the Declaration itself, it is our hope that this theme will “motivate and guide our educational work toward the future in response to the needs and challenges of today’s world.” We note our dedication to this mission. This symposium should highlight the contributions that Lasallian higher education is making toward these goals. With this gathering we also recognize and celebrate our commitment to association and acknowledge how challenging this has been during a pandemic. Please consider joining us even if you are not submitting a proposal.

The Call for Proposals for the 2021 Symposium is now open. Submissions can be focused on theoretical research and/or practice. Proposals may fall under the broad theme of the Symposium or more specifically, the following categories:

• Leadership and Character
• Inclusion and Human Dignity
• Science, Health, and Sustainability
• Lasallian Education and Pedagogy

Proposals should include a description of the paper of approximately 250 words. In addition to your name and contact information, the proposal should also include your institutional affiliation. Proposals should be sent as soon as possible; the deadline for submission is Tuesday June 15. Notifications of acceptance will be sent no later than Thursday, July 15.

Proposals, as well as any questions regarding the call for proposals, should be directed to Jack McClure, Ph.D., and Michael Hahn, Ph.D., at ISLR@smumn.edu. Student presentations are encouraged but we suggest that students work with a faculty facilitator/mentor.

The registration fee includes meals during the Symposium. The fee structure for the 2021 is as follows:

• $300 for individuals at institutions in the U.S.
• $200 for individuals at institutions outside of the U.S.
• $150 for students (undergraduate and graduate)

Lodging is not included in the registration fee. Participants of the Symposium are encouraged to book directly with Minneapolis Marriott City Center.

The aim of the 2021 Symposium is to bring together Lasallian educators from around the world as well as a range of disciplines to celebrate community, share research, and explore questions of importance. We particularly welcome proposals from teachers and other practitioners.

The 2021 Symposium is planned as an in-person event. We will continue to follow safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic and follow guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

PLEASE NOTE: We extended registration another week to Feb 17. Please RSVP using the form and make sure you get all the way through to where it says SUBMIT. It is good to register even if you are just a participant- and not presenting. Looking forward to seeing you all at this event!

17th Annual
Doctoral Research Symposium

RSVP RSVP to attend by Feb. 10

The Doctor of Education Leadership Program successfully completed its annual summer Residency program that took place from July 7th to July 11, 2021.

The program hosted approximately 25 students in person and 15 online, simultaneously, across 3 cohorts. 6 classes were offered.

This year the entire event took place in the Event Center located on the Minneapolis Campus. The new venue this year seemed to be a huge success, with 70% of students attending rating it a 5 out of 5.

In addition to the 6 classes, doctoral students participated in a Social Hour, Meet with Your Advisor, and a sit down Closing Dinner. The program also offered a Comp Exam and Dissertation Workshop for students.

Some of the student comments that were received in the follow up survey were: “Very accommodating for in-person and online participation”, and “Way to go, EDD. We are very grateful for the precious time in our Residency!”.

Ed.D. is looking forward to maintaining the momentum as we launch into the fall semester.

We are honored to offer EDD816, Education and Meaningfulness in a Global World of Diversity, as an elective this fall with Brother Louis DeThomasis.

See brief bio and course description here.

Course Description:

Globalization, communications, social media and new technologies have made the world “smaller”. Diversity among nations, economies, cultures and ideas have come together and intermingled as never before imagined. However, instead of harmony and a respectful embracing of diversity, we see growing tensions and conflicts proliferating among and within societies, institutions, religions and politics.

This course will explore the role and nature of education to foster a relevancy and meaningfulness in this globalized world that can address how we educate within such an environment. Educators should seek a transformation in their assumptions and approaches that address a growing complexity as they seek to foster and motivate a social consciousness in students that nurtures human dignity for all. Acknowledging that transformation is always difficult and that there will always be those who resist efforts to do things differently, educators are compelled to be responsive to the world that exists in the here and now.

This course will explore the role and nature of education to foster a relevancy and meaningfulness in this globalized world that can address how we educate within such an environment. Educators should seek a transformation in their assumptions and approaches that address a growing complexity as they seek to foster and motivate a social consciousness in students that nurtures human dignity for all. Acknowledging that transformation is always difficult and that there will always be those who resist efforts to do things differently, educators are compelled to be responsive to the world that exists in the here and now.

Celebrating Ed.D. alumni and student accomplishments

Ed.D. student publishes in medical science journal

Ed.D. student appointed to Lasallian leadership position

Transforming Learning Summit: Aug 11 & 12