Transformative Praxis through Doctoral Educational Leadership Programs

Grounded in community epistemology and scholarship, this edited volume explores how doctoral educational leadership programs can evolve to remain socially responsive and globally relevant amidst a rapidly shifting global landscape, using a specific Educational and Community Leadership (EDCL) program as a case study.

Positioning the EDCL program as a living case study, the book explores the intersection between educational leadership and socio-political dynamics. Chapters examine how graduate students navigate contested spaces such as globalization versus localization, democracy versus centralized control, and the impact of neoliberalism in politically unstable environments. Within this paradigm, the book explores a broad range of themes including self-reflexivity and identity formation, community-centred leadership and social justice, and feminist reflections on growth and resistance. In particular, the book examines and further develops several key theories and models that have the potential to significantly enhance the inclusivity and resilience of education systems and community structures. By examining the intersections of leadership, equity, innovation, community engagement, and systemic transformation, this volume offers insights that extend beyond one single institution, serving as both a blueprint and a call to action for shaping future educational leadership development programs worldwide.

Ultimately extending theoretical discussions on leadership education beyond institutional boundaries, the book provides a globally relevant framework for understanding leadership in times of transformation. It will therefore be of interest to scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students in the fields of educational leadership strategy.

Khalid Arar is Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, Texas State University, US.

Miguel A. Guajardo is Professor, Educational and Community Leadership Program, and Co-Founder of the Community Learning Exchange, Texas State University, US.

Melissa A. Martinez is Professor, Educational and Community Leadership Program, Texas State University, US.

Rolf Straubhaar is an education policy scholar trained in anthropology.