Doctor of Education Capstones - VCU Scholars Compass - Virginia Commonwealth University | Dept. of Educational Leadership | Virginia Commonwealth University
 
The Ed.D. capstone is the culminating product of the Ed.D. program, developed through a collaborative group effort in the final year in the EdD program. Capstones reflect the EdD focus on action-oriented andragogy and curriculum and the application of theory and research to address unique and complex problems of practice. These capstone reports support organizational improvement for a wide variety of organizations, contexts, and sectors through analysis and research to inform policy and practice.

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Doctor of Education Capstones from 2025

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Transforming Numbers and Narratives into Impact at the Richmond Ed Fund, Jasmine C. Brown, Rochelle Clarke, and Truc-Mai Nguyen

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Innovative Secondary School Scheduling Practices to Positively Impact Student Outcomes in West Point Public Schools, Jessica Burdette, Sydney B. Lilly, and Mark A. Strickler

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Professional Learning Partnerships: An Exploratory Study into How Institutions of Higher Education Can Support PK–12 Educators, Eleonore E. Cardinell, Nora Bryant, Danielle Terrell, Alexandra Javna, and Megan Wood

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Transforming from Outsider to Insider: A Study on New Employee Acculturation to Boost Retention, Laura DaVinci, Kathleen Denman, Aaron Gilley, Vickisha Harris, and Alyssa Reddy

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Strengthening Early Childhood Education: Increasing Family Engagement at The Sprout School of Richmond, Virginia, Tara Davison and Jennifer Meadows

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Unpacking the Study Abroad Experience: Exploring How the Perceptions and Awareness of Faculty, Staff, Advisors and Students Shape Study Abroad Participation at Virginia Commonwealth University, Theresa Franklin, Lauren D. Harris, Stephanie Monn, Amy Snead, and Sarah E. A. Steele

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Sealing the Deal: A Case Study of a Private, Southeastern, Regional College’s Student Onboarding Practices, Alicia R. Gaston, Kristen Meyer, Tyler Ogden, Jennifer Perkinson, and Casey Yocum Michaels

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AGILITY IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: USING IMPROVEMENT SCIENCE TO ALIGN NIRSA’S COMMUNICATION STRATEGY WITH MEMBER NEEDS, Stephanie L. Hart, Kimberly A. Bradley, Lisa M. Gwyn, Joanna A. Liebelt, and Denise K. Miller

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UNcovering Graduate Student Achievement at Virginia Commonwealth University: An Exploration of Academic Advising & Administrative Processes, Kenzel Hill, Elizabeth Howley, Madeline Schutt, and Michelle Blackwell

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A ReSET for Virginia: Systemizing Leadership and Resource Support for Alternatively Prepared Special Education Teachers, Nicholas E. Olson Dr., Rebecca W. Harmon Dr., Elizabeth H. Morris Dr., Michael-Jon Rodney Dr., and Matthew Seidita Dr.

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Campus Culture of Hazing at James Madison University: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Perceptions, Behaviors, and Policy Implications, Lauren D. Powell, Amanda K. Simmons, Alexandra E. Holt, Elizabeth M. Matthews, and Mark D. Meadows

Doctor of Education Capstones from 2024

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Bottling the “Secret Sauce”: Capturing the Heart of the East End at Peter Paul Development Center, Melissa E. Abban, Melissa Buckley, Marie Garrenton, and LaTonja Y. Wright

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Safe Schools: A Descriptive Study Examining How to Prevent Peer-to-Peer Sexual Misconduct in K-12 Schools, Crystal R. Bell, Kristine Herakovich-Curtis, Elizabeth Terrier, and Leah Wiedenhoft

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Navigating an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree: A Mixed Methods Study of Student Enrollment in Virginia Commonwealth University’s 4+1 Programs, Rucha Bond, Kevin Maureen Campbell, Kim Dupre, Bailey Mitchell, and Hawley Smyth

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Examining the Efficacy of Unitive Justice Education in the Secondary School Setting, Chris C. Booz, La Toya K. Draper, and Lottie M. Spurlock

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Belonging at a Historically White Institution: Understanding the Men of Color Experience, Riley Cain Sisk, Tara J. Hefner, Kelsie N. Potter, and Nicholas A. Williams

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The Impact of School Nurses: A Program Evaluation of K-12 School Nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Clarence D. Collins, Edwina McNeill-Simaan, Lyons Hardy, and Amber M. Butler

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Identifying Barriers: Analysis of Federal Law Enforcement Social Media and Recruitment Efforts, Reena Desai, Edgar Greer, and Meghan Waldron

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Brightpoint Community College: Effective Enrollment Anti-Melt Strategies, Michael J. Forder, Ismael J. Betancourt Velez, Adrian Petway, and Juan Espinoza

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Combating Chronic Absenteeism: A Practical Approach to Improving Attendance in a Mid-Sized Virginia School Division, Alissa Fraser, Caroline Goddard, Brian Raska, and Michael Sidebotham

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Empowering Support Staff: Enhancing HCPS Through Performance Evaluation and Strategic Feedback, Sarah K. Gagnon, Cecily Gardner, Blake Roberts, Erin Schwartz, and Candace Wilkerson

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Leveraging Leadership to Retain Early Career Teachers in Stafford County Public Schools, Christopher Gannon, Caroline Canning, Andrew Hoyt, Lauren Johnson, and Thomas McAuley

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Reimagining On-Campus Student Employment as a Foundation for Career Readiness: Student Employment in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Division of Student Affairs, Jaedda Hall, Mary Lee Magee, Sean D. Mays, and Kimberly C. Young

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A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation of Chronic Absenteeism Interventions at Caroline High School, Amanda M. Harper, Dana L.G. Chen, Melissa A. Bugaj, William J. Pettus, and Patrick H. Simmons

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A Path Toward Healing: Parent and Caregiver Perspectives on the Work of Restorative Practices Richmond at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, Jean Samuel, Silvanus Thrower, Jill Flynn, and Brandi Daniels