Outstanding Dissertation Award

This award recognizes an exceptional doctoral level dissertation that expands the knowledge of educational leadership at the post-secondary or K-20 levels. It recognizes outstanding research of our graduate students and encourages professors and early scholars to join TCPEA. The nomination portal for the 2026 awards cycle (2026 Mid-Winter) is now open and submissions are due November 23, 2025.

2024-2025
​Dr. Caroline Daniel

Texas A&M University

Chair
​Dr. Beverly Irby

Regents Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development
Texas A&M University

Past Recipients

2023-2024
Maegan Collins
Lamar University

2022-2023
Ijeoma Anugweje
University of Houston- Clear Lake

2021-2022
Darlene Breaux
Abilene Christian University

2020-2021
Jericah Jackson
Texas A&M University-Commerce

2019-2020
Michael D. Jones
Stephen F. Austin University

2017-2018
Stephanie Johnson
Stephen F. Austin University

2014-2015
Marc Puig
University of Mary Hardin Baylor

Selection/Eligibility Criteria

Doctoral dissertations must be successfully defended within the previous year from the award date. For example, the Dissertation of the Year that is to be presented at the TCPEA Midwinter meeting in January 2023 must have been defended by students who graduated in December 2021, May 2022, or August 2022.
Dissertations considered for the TCPEA Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award should:
  • Be completed within the previous year of the award date as stated above.
  • Be submitted by student, but sponsored by current TCPEA member whose name appears on cover sheet.
  • Align with the TCPEA mission.
  • Seek to address significant research question(s).
  • Contribute to the literature on educational administration, such as studies of administration and or the role and function of the administrator in K-20 schools, studies of the history of educational administration or of the lives of major contributors to the field, or other studies related to educational administration.
  • Be methodologically appropriate.

Nominations

The nomination includes two parts:
  • Part A – cover sheet with appropriate information
  • Part B – a blind copy of a six-page double-spaced abstract of the dissertation
Both parts must be submitted electronically by the deadline using the link above, and a three-person committee of TCPEA members will determine the award winner. The awards chair will notify the award recipient.
Part A. Cover Sheet
  • Title of degree
  • One page vita
  • University granting degree and date granted
  • Name of dissertation chair (must be current TCPEA member)
  • 150-word summary of abstract
  • Name, mailing address, phone, email of student submitting
Part B: Abstract – Blind Copy
(six, double-spaced pages plus appendices as needed) Abstract includes (only include references in the appendix that are used in the abstract):
  • Title page (title only, no other identifying information) – do not count this page
  • Introduction – background of problem, purpose of research, significance of study
  • Theory/Rationale – discuss theoretical basis or literature base referring to the relevant literature
  • Methodology – sample, instrumentation, data collection, data analysis, validity/reliability (in appendix include additional information as needed)
  • Findings and Discussion – report and discuss findings
  • Conclusions, Implications for Practice & Recommendations – state conclusions, implications for practice, and make recommendations for future studies

Award Presentation

The award is presented at the TCPEA Conference Within a Conference held in conjunction with the TASA Midwinter Conference each January, and the recipient is recognized on the TCPEA website. The award includes an honorarium of $250 and a one-year membership to TCPEA.