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Advance your career with an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership

The Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) will prepare you for leadership positions within the central office, including curriculum and instructional directors, department chairs, and aspiring school superintendents who want to build visioning and leadership skills.

The program aims to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and insights to lead other leaders. It combines face-to-face and online classes. Courses include: Strategic Planning and Program Assessment; Leading, Teaching and Learning; and Legal and Ethical Issues in Educational Policy.

The program also includes a focus on strategies and outcomes for disadvantaged students;  the impoverished, those with special needs, or those whose first language is not English.

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RELATED PROGRAMS

Educational Leadership (MSEL)

The Master of Science in Educational Leadership is designed for part-time students with full-time work commitments.  This program follows national and State leadership standards and candidates are eligible for administrator certification in Michigan upon program completion.

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Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Innovation (Ed.D.)

This program extends leadership capabilities developed in the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership, as well as leadership related master’s degree programs (such as Education Leadership, Catholic School Leadership, Higher Education, Health Services Administration, Social Work).

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Faculty Bios

Michele HarmalaAssociate Professor

B.S. Eastern Michigan University

M.A. Wayne State University

Ed.S. Wayne State University

Ph.D. Wayne State University

mharmala@madonna.edu

734-432-5651, 2228G

Michele Harmala

Leading to inspire learning, growth, and service!  Experienced professor and superintendent with a demonstrated history of success and leadership in higher education and the education management industry. Strong organizational professional skilled in Strategic Planning, Organizational Development, Talent Development and Performance Improvement, Program Evaluation, Instructional Design, Curriculum Development, and Public Speaking.  Experienced professor with demonstrated history of developing and facilitating adult learning and scholarship in both online and face-to-face settings.

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Karen ObsniukDean, College of Education and Human Development
Professor

B.S. Wayne State University

M.A. Wayne State University

Ph.D. Wayne State University

kobsniuk@madonna.edu

734-432-5648, 2230D

Karen Obsniuk

Karen L. Obsniuk, Ph.D., is the Dean of the College of Education. She joined the faculty of Madonna University in 1996. Previously, she was an adjunct faculty, while working in K-12 schools as a teacher and school administrator. She completed her doctoral degree in Administration and Supervision, with a cognate in curriculum, and her M.A. in English Literature, at Wayne State University. She teaches in the areas of educational practice and action research

Her interests include educational change, K-12 student behavior, literacy intervention with at-risk students, and quality of work life issues for teachers. Her research has been mixed methods research primarily with pre-service and in-service teachers, school administrators, and EL learners. She is actively engaged in the field of education through her work at the State and local levels, serving on State committees and a local board. 

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Joy OslundAssociate Professor

B.S. Oakland University

M.A. Northern Michigan University

Ph.D. Michigan State University

joslund@madonna.edu

734-432-5790, 2230F

Joy Oslund

Joy Oslund, Ph.D. is the Coordinator of Directed Teaching and an Assistant Professor in the College of Education. She joined the full time faculty of Madonna University in 2016. She received her Ph.D. in Teacher Education from Michigan State University. Her research interests include teaching elementary mathematics for social justice, using cooperative group work to promote equity in classrooms, and teacher learning. She serves on the board for the Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics and is actively engaged in organizations promoting anti-racism in schools.

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