The Ed.D. in rural and diverse educational leadership program at Southern Arkansas University will graduate its first class of 11 students on Saturday, May 10, at 9:00 A.M. at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center basketball gymnasium.

“Graduating our first class is a tremendous milestone—not only for SAU, but for the students who have dedicated themselves to this journey and the rural communities they serve,” said Dr. Angela Stanford, director of the Ed.D. program. “We are incredibly proud of this group of resilient, passionate, and visionary leaders who are already making an impact across our region and beyond.”

The Ed.D. program launched in Fall 2021 with a total of 32 students from 23 counties across the state of Arkansas, plus Louisiana, Missouri, and Vermont. The group represented a wide variety of educational practitioners, including superintendents, university leaders, college and university faculty, building and district-level administrators, and highly experienced classroom teachers.

The rural and diverse educational leadership program provides advanced training in research and practice for professionals holding or seeking leadership positions in rural schools, colleges and universities, and community and government agencies and is intended to respond to as well as anticipate the unique challenges educators and community leaders face in rural areas.

The graduates will convene on Friday, May 9, to share their research at the Ed.D. Showcase. This is a private dinner for graduates and invited guests only.

All SAU graduation ceremonies will be livestreamed on the SAU Facebook page for those unable to attend in person. For more information about the Ed.D. in rural and diverse educational leadership program, please visit web.saumag.edu/edd.