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

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.

Collins receives AHRD best book award for second consecutive year Collins receives AHRD best book award for second consecutive year

Joshua Collins, Associate Professor of Human Resource Development, co-authored Human resource development: Critical perspectives and practices, which received the 2023 R. Wayne Pace Book of the Year Award from AHRD.

Joshua Collins

OLPD alum featured in Star Tribune OLPD alum featured in Star Tribune

Principal Fatima Lawson (Educational Administration MA and PhD) recently won an award for her work at Highwood Hills Elementary, which adopted a polytechnic approach at the urging of Somali, Karen and Hispanic families.

Photo Credit: Shari L. Gross, Star Tribune

OLPD students, faculty co-present at MCDA OLPD students, faculty co-present at MCDA

Abby Wilfert and Vic Massaglia (PhD students in Higher Education, OLPD) recently presented with Professor Michael Stebleton at the Minnesota Career Development Association annual conference.

Jeff Walls wins early-career award Jeff Walls wins early-career award

Jeff Walls, a graduate of the Higher Education PhD program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, received the 2023 Emerging Scholar Award from AERA Division A.

Buford receives state and national graduate research awards Buford receives state and national graduate research awards

Melanie Buford, PhD alum (Higher Education) received graduate student research awards from the Minnesota Career Development Association and the National Career Development Association. Buford's dissertation was on racial equity in career services.

Melanie Buford and Michael Stebleton pose with awards at MCDA

Price named 2024 Impactful Professional of the Year Price named 2024 Impactful Professional of the Year

Nathan Price, PhD Student in Higher Education at OLPD, was named 2024 Impactful Professional of the Year by Blacks in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

Galvão Receives 2024 Mestenhauser Student Award Galvão Receives 2024 Mestenhauser Student Award

Washington Galvão, PhD Student in Comparative and International Development Education at OLPD, received one of three 2024 Mestenhauser Student Awards for for Excellence in Campus Internationalization.

Adjei receives 2024 Alumni Award of Excellence Adjei receives 2024 Alumni Award of Excellence

Millicent Adjei, PhD, alum of the MA and PhD programs in Comparative and International Development Education, was named a recipient of the 2024 CEHD Alumni Award of Excellence.

Millicent Adjei headshot

Ardichvili named to AHRD Hall of Fame Ardichvili named to AHRD Hall of Fame

Alexandre Ardichvili, Professor and Hellervik Chair in Leadership and Adult Career Development, was inducted into the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) Hall of Fame at the AHRD 2024 Annual Conference held in February.

Alexandre Ardichvili at home. Photo Credit: Jayme Halbritter

CIDE programs well-represented at CIES 2024 CIDE programs well-represented at CIES 2024

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Comparative and International Development Education graduate programs will be well represented at CIES 2024, March 6-7 online and 10-14 in Miami, FL. 26 sessions will feature students, faculty, and alumni.

OLPD Higher Education alumnus named new chancellor of UW-Parkside OLPD Higher Education alumnus named new chancellor of UW-Parkside

Dr. Lynn D. Akey, OLPD Higher Education PhD Alumni (2012), Vice President for Student Success, Analytics and Integrated Planning at Minnesota State University, Mankato, has been named the 7th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Parkside.

Two OLPD alumni honored with 2023 CEHD Distinguished Alumni Awards Two OLPD alumni honored with 2023 CEHD Distinguished Alumni Awards

Two OLPD alumni were recognized by the College of Education and Human Development at the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony on November 9. Congratulations to the OLPD recipients Eric Decker and Ronald Salazar Sojo.

Nicole Dillard named Emerging Technologies Faculty Fellow Nicole Dillard named Emerging Technologies Faculty Fellow

Nicole Dillard, assistant professor of human resource development in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, was selected to be a Faculty Fellow in the 2024-25 Emerging Technologies Faculty Fellowship Program (FFP).

OLPD PhD candidate awarded the 2023-24 RLK Chair-United Way Internship OLPD PhD candidate awarded the 2023-24 RLK Chair-United Way Internship

Christina Cauble, PhD candidate in the OLPD's Human Resource Development (HRD) program has been awarded the 2023-2024 Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging Chair-United Way Internship.

Forthcoming book from Darrius A. Stanley Forthcoming book from Darrius A. Stanley

Darrius A. Stanley's book #BlackEducatorsMatter: The Experiences of Black Teachers in an Anti-Black World, will be published in February and is available for pre-order now with the Harvard Education Press.

Kyla Wahlstrom receives U’s highest honor Kyla Wahlstrom receives U’s highest honor

On October 10, Kyla Wahlstrom, Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD), was recognized with the U’s highest honor, the Outstanding Achievement Award, at an event with family and friends.

kyla greeted by colleague at award ceremony

OLPD PhD student receives 2023-24 DePodesta Fellowship OLPD PhD student receives 2023-24 DePodesta Fellowship

Enet Mukurazita, PhD student in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development’s (OLPD) Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE) program was awarded the full-year DePodesta Fellowship for 2023-24.

enet mukurazita headshot

Matthew Schuelka gives keynote at international teacher education conference Matthew Schuelka gives keynote at international teacher education conference

Matthew Schuelka, lecturer in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD), recently gave an invited keynote address at the annual International Society for Teacher Education (ISfTE) conference in Paro, Bhutan.

schuelka giving keynote at podium
Please configure this component to see content.

MLTD Info Session: Oct. 10 MLTD Info Session: Oct. 10

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!

Education Policy and Leadership PhD Exec Cohort Info Session: Oct. 11 Education Policy and Leadership PhD Exec Cohort Info Session: Oct. 11

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!

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!

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!

Please configure this component to see content.
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