Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Smith, Kaleb

Committee Member

Milam, Alisha

Committee Member

Stubbs, Michelle

Committee Member

Gathings, Cedric

Date of Degree

12-12-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Doctoral Capstone - Open Access

Major

Education (Educational Policy and Organizational Design)

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

College

College of Education

Department

Division of Education

Abstract

Community colleges serve as critical gateways to higher education and workforce advancement, yet many lack formal leadership development programs tailored to their unique missions and operational challenges. This capstone project explores the need for and proposes the design of a comprehensive leadership program for community colleges, addressing three guiding questions: (1) How can community colleges build institutional support for leadership development programs? (2) In what ways can leadership programs increase faculty and staff engagement to improve student success? (3) How can structured leadership programs serve as foundations for succession planning within college administration? A desk-based research methodology was employed, anchored by the Nevarez-Wood Community College Leadership Framework and guided by Jack Mezirow's Transformational Learning Theory. This approach involved a systematic literature review and document analysis of existing leadership development models, transformational and distributed leadership theories, and leadership practices. Key findings demonstrate that securing administrative and institutional support is critical for program sustainability. Faculty and staff buy-in promotes collaboration and innovation, thereby improving student outcomes. Integrating succession planning into leadership programs builds internal pipelines that are essential for organizational continuity. This project highlights the pressing need for intentional leadership development to equip community college leaders to navigate shifting demands, drive institutional excellence, and build student-centered cultures.

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