This fall marks a milestone for the education doctoral program at NDSU. The annual Education Doctoral Program Fall Conference enters its 10th year. Scheduled for Sept. 27-28 in the Memorial Union, the theme for this year’s event is “Socially Responsible Scholarship.”
Approximately 80 students active in doctoral-level coursework are expected to attend, in addition to NDSU faculty, education doctoral program alumni and others who provide support to the program.
Traditionally a networking event, the student-led conference will bring together doctoral students from throughout the region. A majority of the students in the program participate via the North Dakota Interactive Video Network. “It’s part of our land-grant mission to bring people in that can’t otherwise attend the traditional classroom setting,” said Aida Martinez-Freeman, conference co-coordinator.
Several changes to the conference are intended to engage students and faculty in an interactive scholarly event, said Nate Wood, education doctoral program faculty liaison. This year features concurrent sessions on institutional analysis and adult education, a forum on doctoral research and networking opportunities.
Stephen D. Brookfield, a Distinguished Professor at the University of St. Thomas, will be the keynote speaker. An internationally acclaimed author in adult education, Brookfield has written 15 books on adult learning, teaching, critical thinking, discussion methods and critical theory. His Sept. 28 keynote address is titled “Becoming a Critically Reflective Educator.”
Brookfield also will hold a conversation about his book, “Radicalizing Learning: Adult Education for a Just World,” at the conference’s welcome event and social Sept. 27.
Pre-conference events include a pedagogical luncheon, hosted in partnership with the NDSU provost’s office. Open to NDSU faculty, the luncheon is themed “What Does It Mean to Act Critically” and is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Arikara room.
Concurrent sessions will be held in the Memorial Union. Bryan Barts, associate director of the NDSU Career Center, will present “How to Create a Competitive CV” in the Prairie room. Robert Nielsen, professor of education, will present “Stress and the Graduate Student” in the Arikara room. Chris Ray, assistant professor of education, will present “The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate” in the Plains room.
Myron Eighmy, education doctoral program coordinator, said the event is a celebration of several milestones within the program. It will introduce a new cohort of doctoral students, acknowledge students that have completed comprehensive exams and are beginning their dissertation, and congratulate those who have graduated from the program. Eighmy, who will provide a closing address on the state of the program, said the student-led conference provides valuable experience. “It gives students new to the program an early opportunity to start building on their professional development,” he said.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.