Lead with Vision. Transform with Purpose.

For nearly 50 years, the University of La Verne has shaped value-centered, visionary leaders who drive change across sectors. To meet the urgent challenges of today’s complex world—from financial pressures to growing equity gaps—we have thoughtfully redesigned our premier program.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership is an accelerated, blended program that equips working professionals to lead with integrity, advance equity, drive innovation, and achieve lasting impact in their organizations and communities.

Why Choose La Verne’s Ed.D. in Leadership?

Traditional leadership training often falls short of preparing leaders for today’s realities. Organizations urgently need leaders who can:

• Navigate financial and organizational complexities.
• Communicate effectively across diverse stakeholders.
• Advance equity and inclusion.
• Drive meaningful, sustainable change.

Our program is part of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), a national effort to make the Ed.D. the degree of choice for scholarly practitioners. This alignment ensures your learning goes beyond theory, focusing instead on problems of practice that matter in real organizations.

Program Highlights

2026-2027 Practicum Dates: August 22-23, 2026 and February 20-21, 2027

• Accelerated 2-Year Completion – Earn your doctorate efficiently without stepping away from your career.
• Blended Learning – Two-day, in-person practicum each semester + live online sessions + flexible coursework.
• Small Cohorts – Join a close-knit community of leaders for collaboration, peer support, and professional networking.
• Dissertation in Practice (DiP) – As part of the CPED model, you’ll research and solve a pressing challenge within your own organization—embedded directly into your coursework.
• Affordable Investment – $1,000 per unit for this 45-unit program

Concentrations

Community College Leadership

This concentration is designed to cultivate the five qualities identified by the Aspen Institute and Achieving the Dream as essential for effective community college leadership. You will be prepared to:

• Commit deeply to student access and success.
• Take bold, equity-driven actions to improve outcomes.
• Build a strategic vision for students and institutions through external partnerships.
• Raise and allocate resources strategically to advance student success.
• Lead long-term, transformative change within the community college system.

Courses:

• Policy, Finance, and Human Resources
• Planning for Change
• Exploration of Campus Cultures: Impact and Influence

Leadership & Organizational Transformation

Organizations today face rapid disruption, shifting workforce dynamics, and rising demands for equity and accountability. This concentration is designed for leaders who want to drive innovation, build resilient organizations, and lead change that lasts. It prepares you to:

• Analyze complex organizational systems and identify levers for transformation.
• Design and implement strategic initiatives that align people, culture, and resources.
• Lead through disruption, technology shifts, and economic challenges.
• Inspire teams and stakeholders around a shared vision for sustainable growth and equity.

Courses:

• Organizational Development and Transformational Change
• Finance and Human Resources
• Strategic Planning and Visioning

What You’ll Gain

Graduates of the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership are equipped to:

• Lead with Purpose—Step into executive roles such as Superintendent, College Administrator, Nonprofit Executive, or Corporate Leader.
• Solve Complex Challenges—Apply systems thinking, data-driven decision-making, and change management strategies.
• Advance Equity & Innovation—Build inclusive cultures and lead with cultural intelligence and ethical decision-making.
• Become a Scholarly Practitioner—Conduct applied research that drives innovation and positive transformation.

Why Choose La Verne?

• A community of leaders committed to equity and innovation.
• Faculty who are both scholars and practitioners, bringing real-world expertise into the classroom.
• Since 1976, the University of La Verne’s Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership has prepared individuals to be value-centered, visionary, and authentic leaders who inspire trust and collaboration.
• A proven track record of preparing leaders across community colleges, higher education, healthcare, nonprofit organizations, and law enforcement to drive innovation and transformation in their fields.

Who Should Apply?

This program is designed for:

• Professionals with 5+ years of experience (leadership experience preferred).
• Mid- to senior-level leaders in education (including community colleges and higher education), nonprofit, healthcare, business, or law enforcement/public service.
• Practitioners ready to design actionable, research-informed solutions to real-world problems.