Barry Hogan
Vancouver cohort, 2006
Barry Hogan says that he has benefited from the Doctoral program in Educational Leadership at Simon Fraser University in many ways. Among the benefits he cites, is that the program has introduced him to many current and future leaders in the post secondary field in British Columbia and has helped to position him as a leader among his colleagues.
Barry is the Associate Dean for the Marketing Management Department at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Seeking educational opportunities to hone his skills both as a researcher and as a practitioner, Barry enrolled in the EdD Post Secondary cohort in the Fall of 2006. Two years later with his course work completed, he states that, “the courses sharpened my research skills and allowed me to focus my research in the areas I was most interested in”. He asserts that the EdD has not only provided him with the tools and perspective to improve his practice, but also broaden his perspective. As a result, his capacity to think broadly about his role and leadership in academic institutions has grown.
Other benefits and aspects of the program Barry has enjoyed are the friendship, and camaraderie of a very supportive cohort. He says that, “Meeting classmates from most major BC post-secondary institutions, sharing our respective knowledge and experience, provides a forum to think deeply about post-secondary education”. And of course, Barry acknowledges the invaluable opportunity to learn from impassioned professors and instructors, as something that is notable and worth mentioning about the program.
In the Spring 2009 semester Barry embarked on yet another aspect of the program, which is the collection and analysis of data for his thesis on How to facilitate collegial work environments in Post Secondary Settings. For Barry, progressing through the program’s milestones comes with a great sense of accomplishment. If all goes as planned, Barry hopes to defend his thesis in the Summer of 2009. Asked if he would recommend this program to others in the field, he says, “Absolutely! I have done so many times, I am a huge advocate for the SFU EdD!”