CPED Challenge Friday

Balancing Student Agency vs. Programmatic Needs in Matching Scholarly Practitioners with Dissertation Chairs

Date: Friday, March 6, 2026

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET 

This webinar will share the ongoing successes and challenges of an experienced CPED EdD program when matching doctoral students with dissertation chairs or advisors. Attempting to strike a balance between provision of student agency in chair selection and addressing programmatic needs and limitations through chair assignment has resulted in several different approaches by East Carolina University’s EdD program, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Included will be a discussion among participant colleagues to share their own approaches in their respective programs, highlighting perceived strengths and areas for improvement. Ultimately, a listing of the various processes used from across participants will be compiled for consideration in practice.

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Presenters:

Travis Lewis

Travis Lewis, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and EdD Program Coordinator within the College of Education at East Carolina University. Dr. Lewis obtained a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Coaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds an M.Ed. in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MSA in School Administration from East Carolina University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. Dr. Lewis served as a school counselor at Ayden-Grifton High School in Ayden, North Carolina, where he now calls home. He became coordinator and later director for a small-learning community within Pitt County Schools in Greenville entitled the Health Sciences Academy designed to prepare students for potential careers in healthcare. Subsequently, Dr. Lewis was named executive director of student services for Pitt County Schools and later assumed the additional role of public information officer as well. After shifting into higher education, Dr. Lewis was selected as Associate Dean of Students for East Carolina University and adjunct instructor in both counselor education and educational leadership. Most recently, Dr. Lewis became an assistant professor in educational leadership and took on the responsibility of EdD program coordinator.

As such, Dr. Lewis has extensive experience in leadership and administration in K-12 and Higher Education. His areas of expertise include:

• the use of social &; emotional learning in K-12 school,
• mitigating the effects of trauma on school-aged children,
• implementing school safety and threat assessment / management strategies and techniques in both K-12 and higher education,
• leadership in student services and student affairs in K-12 and higher education, and
• effective utilization of school counselors, school social workers, and school nurses in schools.

Karen Jones

Karen D. Jones, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership (LEED) at East Carolina University, where she has served since 2015. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Jones earned her B.S. in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a PhD in School Improvement from Texas State University.

Dr. Jones’s research and teaching focus on preparing school leaders to succeed in diverse school communities, with particular attention to equity, policy, and practice in K–12 education. One of her signature courses, Micro-Political Leadership and Decision-Making within a Legal Context, engages aspiring leaders in examining the legal, political, and ethical dimensions of school leadership, including how implicit bias and inequitable policy implementation affect students and communities.

She was drawn to educational leadership—and to ECU’s LEED program—by its strong commitment to service and action-oriented leadership, exemplified through collaborative projects that support meaningful change in schools and districts. Outside of work, Dr. Jones enjoys reading nonfiction in the social sciences and history, as well as walking and hiking.

Marjorie Ringler

Marjorie Campo Ringler, EdD, is an experienced educational leader whose career spans K–12 and higher education, with deep expertise in preparing scholar-practitioners for transformational leadership. She currently serves as Professor‑in‑Residence in Educational Leadership at the University of North Florida, where she supports leadership preparation, program development, and partnerships that strengthen practitioner‑focused EdD training.

She previously served as Chair and Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University, where she also directed the EdD, Master of School Administration, and Educational Specialist programs. In these roles, she guided program redesign and implementation aligned with CPED principles and contributed to strengthening the preparation of educational leaders.

Dr. Ringler’s scholarship and professional development work support systems-level improvement by building leader capacity to advance instructional quality, academic language development, and dual language education. She has extensive experience facilitating professional learning for university educator preparation faculty, school leadership teams, and practicing educators. Her national and international initiatives include collaborations across the United States and Latin America to enhance leadership effectiveness, strengthen instructional practice, and promote meaningful organizational change in teaching and learning.

Dr. Ringler holds an EdD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida, a Master of Education from Stetson University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education from Florida International University.

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