College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Doctoral Students

There are currently more than 200 students enrolled in the seven doctoral programs across our department.

Obafemi O. Ogunleye Obafemi O. Ogunleye

I am a doctoral candidate in Comparative and International Development Education with a minor in Program Evaluation.

Obafemi O. Ogunleye

Julie Olson Rand Julie Olson Rand

I serve as the Associate Director for Access Programs in the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at the University of Minnesota. My prior experience includes almost 5 years in Disability Services at St.

Veronika Paprocka Veronika Paprocka

My research interests include LGBTQIA+ people and their sense of belonging at work, how policy can support inclusion and belonging and create ripple effects within communities.

Demetria M. Poe Demetria M. Poe

Maya Angelou said, “I come as one but I stand as 10,000." I carry this quote in my heart and it has guided me throughout my life.

Demetria M. Poe

Nathan Price Nathan Price

Nathan Price is a doctoral student in the ​Higher Education Program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Danielle Rintala Danielle Rintala

I am a biologist who has worked in higher education for 15 years. I have 19 years of experience teaching various student learners in higher education.

Richard J. Roman Richard J. Roman

Richard Roman is a doctoral student in the higher education program at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD).

Richard Roman

Dane Rowley Dane Rowley

Dane Rowley is a doctoral candidate in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Dane Rowley

Consuelo Sánchez-Bautista Consuelo Sánchez-Bautista

I am a Fulbright-Colciencias doctoral student in the Comparative International Development Education program. Broadly, I am interested in the relationships between education and mobility, particularly in contexts of armed conflicts and violence.

Consuelo Sánchez-Bautista

Akira Sawata Akira Sawata

Akira Sawata is a critical scholar-practitioner dedicated to advancing theories and practices that empower socially marginalized populations in higher education.

Rachel M. Scholten Rachel M. Scholten

Rachel Scholten is a doctoral student in the Leadership for Intercultural and International Education cohort at the University of Minnesota's Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Gary Schwartz-Moore Gary Schwartz-Moore

After working in higher education for the past 15 years, I decided to start my PhD program as part of the LIIE cohort in 2020 to delve deeper into my areas of primary research interest: DEI in higher ed and inclusive leadership.

Gary Schwartz-Moore

Minjeong Seo Minjeong Seo

Minjeong Seo is a doctoral student in the Human Resource Development program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Minjeong Seo

Ahmed Sirleaf Ahmed Sirleaf

A seasoned international development, rule of law, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professional, with over a combined decade of experience in planning and managing complex donor (international cooperation affairs), transitional justice, and…

Ahmed Sirleaf

Jane E. Sitter Jane E. Sitter

I am interested in higher education as an environment for personal, social, and civic development within our globally interconnected world. My area of research interest is internationalization at home on university campuses.

Jane E. Sitter

Lindsey Smaka Lindsey Smaka

In addition to my doctoral work, I am a chemistry teacher and coordinate the Global Scholar Program at Edina High School in Edina, Minnesota.

Lindsey Smaka

Brittany Stahlman Brittany Stahlman

After a decade of teaching high school English, the moments that transformed my teaching into being more inclusive and equitable were not the professional development sessions.

Dadang Risman Sunandar Dadang Risman Sunandar

​Dadang Risman Sunandar is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Human Resource Development program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Kae Takaoka Kae Takaoka

Kae Takaoka is a Ph.D. candidate in the Comparative International Development Education (CIDE) program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development.

Jolene M. Thibedeau Boyd Jolene M. Thibedeau Boyd

Jolene Thibedeau Boyd is a doctoral student in the Human Resource Development program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Jolene M. Thibedeau Boyd

Jessica K. Trad Jessica K. Trad

Jessica Trad is a doctoral student in the Higher Education program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Tommy Van Norman Tommy Van Norman

I am interested in exploring how formal higher education experiences (i.e., study abroad and experiential/immersive learning) imbed land-based, placed-based, or Indigenous education into their curriculum and programming, and how those experiences…

Tommy Van Norman

Zer Vang Zer Vang

I am a dedicated and passionate advocate and educator for students, particularly those who are underrepresented.

Zer Vang

Vanessa Voller Vanessa Voller

I am a doctoral student at the College of Education and Human Development and School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota and a visiting instructor in the Community and Global Health division of the International Studies Department at…

Vanessa Voller

Renee Wharton Renee Wharton

Renee is a doctoral student in the ​Human Resources Development program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Stefanie Wiesneski Stefanie Wiesneski

Stefanie Wiesneski is a doctoral student in the ​Higher Education program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Abby Wilfert Abby Wilfert

Abby Wilfert is a doctoral candidate in the Higher Education program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Morgan M. Wright, MPH Morgan M. Wright, MPH

Morgan is a doctoral candidate in the Evaluation Studies program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Hnub Xiong Hnub Xiong

Hnub Xiong is a doctoral student in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Kevin Xiong Kevin Xiong

Kevin Xiong is a doctoral student in the ​Higher Education program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

'Joyce' Zhou Yang 'Joyce' Zhou Yang

"Joyce" Zhou Yang is a doctoral student in the Human Resource Development at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Cameron PajYeeb Yang Cameron PajYeeb Yang

Cameron PajYeeb Yang is a doctoral student in the Education Policy and Leadership program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Cameron Yang

Alul Yesak Alul Yesak

I am a first-generation college graduate, and immigrant from Ethiopia studying the identity development of second-generation Ethiopian American students in the K-12 space.

Alul Yesak