College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

World-wide influence. Collaborative impact.

Our world is full of systems and policies that affect how individuals learn, grow and relate to one another. Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) studies how those systems and policies are shaped by culture and power. We prepare leaders and researchers to transform our education and organizations for the better.

We teach our students how to design, test, implement, and revise our institutional strategies in both the public and private sectors, from the international to the local level. Our students gain practical experiences in creating approaches to increase social and economic development, foster human flourishing, disrupt power structures, and promote a more just society.

Department News

New OLPD faculty: Roberto C. Orozco New OLPD faculty: Roberto C. Orozco

Roberto C. Orozco is an assistant professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. He holds an MS in higher education from Florida State University and a PhD in higher education from Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

New OLPD faculty: Gresham Collom New OLPD faculty: Gresham Collom

Gresham Collom is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education in the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Digari, McAdaragh Awarded Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for 2024-25 Digari, McAdaragh Awarded Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for 2024-25

Sheetal Digari and Mary O'Brien McAdaragh, PhD students in programs at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, were awarded prestigious Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships for 2024-25.

Rowe, Quagliana Receive NCAA Research Grant  Rowe, Quagliana Receive NCAA Research Grant 

Madeline Rowe and Kyle Quagliana, PhD Students in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, were named recipients of an NCAA graduate student research grant for their project examining graduate transfer student-athlete experiences.

OLPD Mourns Professor David R. Johnson, PhD OLPD Mourns Professor David R. Johnson, PhD

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) are mourning the loss of their colleague and mentor David R. Johnson.

Joan DeJaeghere named interim chair of OLPD Joan DeJaeghere named interim chair of OLPD

Professor Joan DeJaeghere has been named interim chair of the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).

AHIEC-led team including OLPD faculty receives grant to partner with tribal colleges to transform STEM education for Indigenous students AHIEC-led team including OLPD faculty receives grant to partner with tribal colleges to transform STEM education for Indigenous students

Professors Elizabeth Sumida-Huaman and Bhaskar Upadhyay are PI and Co-PI, respectively, for a team recently awarded a Spencer Foundation Vision grant to research ways to transform STEM graduate education for Indigenous students.

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Department Events

Higher Education Info Session: Oct. 17 Higher Education Info Session: Oct. 17

Please join us via Zoom for an information session about our MA and PhD programs in Higher Education. Meet staff and faculty, and get answers to all of your questions!

MLTD Info Session: Oct. 18 MLTD Info Session: Oct. 18

Please join us via Zoom for an information session about the fully-online Master of Learning and Talent Development degree program. Meet staff and faculty, and get answers to all of your questions!

Graduate Student Workshop: APA Style Graduate Student Workshop: APA Style

Current OLPD graduate students are invited to attend this workshop on APA style, hosted by OLPD faculty Nicole Dillard, Karen Miksch, and Stephanie Sisco.

Education Policy and Leadership PhD Exec Cohort Info Session: Nov. 7 Education Policy and Leadership PhD Exec Cohort Info Session: Nov. 7

Please join us via Zoom for an information session about our unique Executive Cohort PhD program in Education Policy and Leadership. Meet staff and faculty, and get answers to all of your questions!

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86% of employers


identify “ability to work in a team” as a top attribute they seek in new hires.

Source: Job Outlook 2020, National Association of Colleges and Employers

Undergraduate programs

Business and marketing education

Learn a broad set of skills to prepare for a variety of careers, from positions in Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurial startups, and international organizations to nonprofit management.

Human resource development

Gain the skills you need to offer workplace training and contribute to organizational development in a variety of public and private organizations.

Graduate program tracks

Education policy and leadership

Work to continuously improve educational quality and effectiveness so that young people graduate from secondary education well-prepared to continue their learning and contribute to their communities.

Evaluation studies

earn what works. Study evaluation theory and practice and inform the decision-making process in a variety of fields.

Higher education

Investigate the experiences, practices and decisions of those involved in post-secondary educations as well as the socio-political contexts in which higher education exists.

Human resource development

Study the ways in which people find meaning and thrive in their workplaces, and cultivate the conditions that empower people to be the best versions of themselves at work.

Contact information

For general questions about our department, contact:

Undergraduate studies
612-625-9087
ugolpd@umn.edu

Graduate studies
612-626-9377
olpd@umn.edu

Main office
612-624-1006