Program Overview
The Executive Ed.D. in Leadership Studies is an accelerated, interdisciplinary doctoral degree program that you can complete within two years. It’s designed to meet the needs of mid- to senior-level professionals who want to expand their knowledge and career opportunities. The program combines theory and practice with individual mentoring and applied research to shape you into a reflective, ethical and effective leader.
In this program, you’ll experience high-quality coursework paired with individualized mentoring both on and off campus. You’ll engage in a rigorous process of research, inquiry and site-specific practice for a well-rounded education meant to drive your career forward.

Learning Experiences
- Cohorts begin in May of each year, containing five to 15 students from a diverse range of employment sectors.
- Core classes are held at Ashland University’s Columbus Center.
- Core classes meet two Fridays (4 to 8 p.m.) and Saturdays (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) each month, enabling students to work full time while completing their degree.
- Classes are conducted year-round in a hybrid format (online and face-to-face)
- Core classes are completed across four semesters (16 months); the remaining time is devoted to completing your dissertation.

Graduate Outcomes
Curriculum
The formal coursework is organized around the components of an integrative foundations core, organizational leadership core and research core, along with a cognate area of study that you select. The cognate area complements the major area of leadership studies and, at the same time, meets your individual needs.
Contact Information
Judy Alston, Ph.D. - Professor, Doctoral Studies Director
127 Dwight Schar College of Education
419-207-4983
jalston@ashland.edu
Peter G. Ghazarian, Ed.D. - Assistant Professor, Doctoral Studies and Advanced Programs
129 Dwight Schar College of Education
419-289-5339
pghazari@ashland.edu