College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Learn today. Lead tomorrow.

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

Stephanie Sisco named McKnight Land-Grant Professor Stephanie Sisco named McKnight Land-Grant Professor

Stephanie Sisco, assistant professor in Organizational Leadership, Policy & Development in the College of Education and Human Development, has been awarded a 2026 McKnight Land-Grant Professorship.

Maral Khanjani awarded prestigious Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship Maral Khanjani awarded prestigious Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship

UMN PhD student Maral Khanjani won the 2026-27 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship to study the "motherhood penalty." Her research examines how return-to-office mandates impact career advancement and pay growth for working mother

Roberto C. Orozco receives early career award from AAHHE Roberto C. Orozco receives early career award from AAHHE

The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Early Career Award recognizes those who demonstrate commitment and promise via their actions, research, and service to the Latinx higher education community.

NCDA podcast features two OLPD students NCDA podcast features two OLPD students

Two Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) students recently participated in a podcast by the National Career Development Association (NCDA).

DeJaeghere delivers keynote in Korea DeJaeghere delivers keynote in Korea

Joan DeJaeghere gave the keynote for the 12th conference on Education and Overseas Development Aid (ODA) in Seoul, Korea, on November 27 2025.

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Department Events

Oral PhD Defense: Kristina Cibuzar Oral PhD Defense: Kristina Cibuzar

Kristina Cibuzar, PhD Candidate, will present "Constructing Inclusion in Preservice Teacher Education: Faculty Discourses and Practices Across General and Special Education Programs in the U.S. and Korea." 11:00am—Burton Hall 227 or online via z.

Oral PhD Defense: Eniola A. Aderibigbe Oral PhD Defense: Eniola A. Aderibigbe

Eniola A. Aderibigbe, PhD Candidate, will present "Exploring Trustworthy Behaviors for Mid-Level Leaders Using 360-Degree Feedback Data." 8:45am—in person (room TBA) and online via Zoom (z.umn.edu/Eniola).

Oral PhD Defense: Dadang R. Sunandar Oral PhD Defense: Dadang R. Sunandar

Dadang R. Sunandar, PhD Candidate, will present "Linking Strategy, Organizational Practices, and Employee Competencies to Multilevel Agility: A Structural Model with Implications for Human Resource Development." 10:00am—online via z.umn.

Oral PhD Defense: Katie Cornelius Oral PhD Defense: Katie Cornelius

Katie Cornelius, PhD Candidate, will present "From Capacity Building to Sustained Practice: Organizational Conditions for Sustainable Evaluation." 11:00am— online via z.umn.edu/Cornelius

Oral PhD Defense: Brittany Stahlman Oral PhD Defense: Brittany Stahlman

Brittany Stahlman, PhD Candidate, will present "Beyond the Normative Center: Transforming Culturally Responsive Co-Teaching in Contradictory School Contexts." 10:00am—125 Burton Hall or online via z.umn.edu/Stahlman

Oral PhD Defense: Cheryl Vanacora Oral PhD Defense: Cheryl Vanacora

Cheryl Vanacora, PhD Candidate, will present "Reimagining Change within Public Systems: A Case Study Examining the Role of Evaluation in the Whole Family Systems Initiative." 10:00am— online via z.umn.edu/Vanacora

Oral PhD Defense: Hyerim Cho Oral PhD Defense: Hyerim Cho

Hyerim Cho, PhD Candidate, will present "Evolving Decisions of Workplace Bullying Bystanders in the Korean Public Sector: Dynamic Psychological Mechanisms and the Influence of Intervention Strategies." 1:00pm— online via z.umn.edu/Hyerim

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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