K-12 Educational Administration Ambassadors

Sedat Gumus is a full time student in the K-12 doctoral program. Sedat worked as a math teacher in Turkey before he won a scholarship from the Ministry of National Education of Turkey for his graduate education in the U.S. He joined the Educational Administration Department as a Master's degree student in July 2008 and earned his degree in May 2010. His scholarly interests include both school level administration and educational policy issues. As an international student, he is especially grateful to the EAD faculty members for their endless support and care.

email: gumussed@msu.edu

Nicole Campbell is a student in the K-12 doctoral program and continues to work full-time as an elementary teacher in a Michigan school district. Having taught in both charter and public schools settings, she has an in-depth understanding of the challenges and rewards of being and educator. Nicole’s research interests focus on education reform and running a proficient school amidst multiple logistical objectives. She is also part of the EAD “CommUNITY” team, which has its focus on creating programs that aid international students and students of color in transitioning to graduate school. “Whether you desire to advance in your career or seek to improve your current pedagogy, the K-12 program provides rich opportunities to develop academically and professionally."

Email: campbe27@msu.edu

Yan Liu joined the K-12 doctoral program with an interest in school leadership and school construction, with a focus on building positive learning environments for all students. Before attending MSU, she worked in China as an educator and administrator in K-12. Yan chose the EAD program at MSU over other institutions because of its commitment to making the highest quality programming available to educators who are serious about scholarly work as well as individual care and support from faculty. She also enjoys the diverse student body from which she can share experiences and learn.

Email: liuyan7@msu.edu

Thomas DeLuca initially joined the K-12 doctoral program while working full-time in a Michigan school district. However, for the last two years, he is a full-time student and serves the K-12 unit as a part-time graduate assistant. Professionally, Thomas served as an elementary school teacher, principal, and a finance director, while academically, his research interests focus on school finance and the economics of educational organizations. "In addition to our K-12 PhD program and its overall academic culture, the department's outreach to local districts and state policy makers provides amazing opportunities for participation, learning, and growth."

Email: delucath@msu.edu