Ed.D.: Doctor of Education in Leadership
Doctoral Program Faculty Bios
Dr. Robyn Cooper, Director
robyn.cooper@drake.edu
515-271-4535
B.S.: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
M.Ed.: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Ph.D.: Iowa State University
Research interests
Recruitment, retention and persistence of girls and women in science; technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related academic programs and activities; environmental stressors/issues that impact student persistence; epistemologies and epistemic development; research methodologies
Classes taught
Doctoral Foundations Seminar; Quantitative Research Methods; Advanced Quantitative Research Methods; Dissertation Seminar; Education Research; Advanced Research; Planning, Research, Measurement and Evaluation
Dr. Sally Beisser
sally.beisser@drake.edu
515-271-4850
B.A.: Iowa State University
M.S.: Iowa State University
Ph.D.: Iowa State University
Research Interests
Gifted and talented, service-learning, pedagogy, qualitative research
Classes Taught
Qualitative Research, Advanced Qualitative Research, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Elementary Social Studies Methods, Contemporary Issues in Education, Personal Finance for College Students, Money Matters for Teachers, Honors Service-Learning, First Year Seminar, Team Belize Practicum for Teaching and Learning in Belize
Dr. Tom Buckmiller
thomas.buckmiller@drake.edu
515-271-4989
B.A.: Mount Marty College
M.A.: Iowa State University
Ph.D.: Penn State University
Research interests
Native American education, nature of technology in education, non-public schools, critical pedagogy
Classes taught
The Needs of Diverse Learners; Educational Management; Research, Evaluation, Planning and Measurement; Leadership and the Profession; Professional and Personal Seminar; Clinical I & II
Dr. Michael Couvillon
michael.couvillon@drake.edu
515-271-4690
B.A.: University of Nebraska, Kearney
M.S.: University of North Texas
Ph.D.: University of North Texas
Research Interests
Emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD), functional behavioral assessments and behavior intervention plans, policy and standards on the use of time out seclusion, juvenile justice
Classes Taught
Introduction to Special Education, Introduction to Behavior Disorders and Learning Disabilities, Learning Disabilities and Differentiated Instruction, Evidence Based Interventions for Students with Behavior Disorders and Learning Disabilities, Characteristics of Students with Mild Disabilities, Consultation and In-Service Training, Professional Seminar in Special Education
Dr. Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp
bengu.tekinalp@drake.edu
515-271-2170
B.S.: Middle East Technical University
M.S.: Middle East Technical University
Ph.D.: Auburn University
Research Interests
Adlerian counselling, multicultural counselling, school counsellor roles and program effectiveness, positive psychology
Classes Taught
Methods of Counselling, Counselling Diverse Populations, Introduction to Counselling, Assessment, Doctoral Seminar on Ethics and Diversity
Dr. Jan Walker
jan.walker@drake.edu
515-271-3719
B.A.: College of St. Scholastica
M.A.: University of Northern Iowa
Ph.D.: Iowa State University
Research interests
Instructional leadership, parent involvement, social justice.
Classes taught
Personal and Professional Assessment Seminar, Instruction and Learning, Community and Society, Diversity in Schools, Supervising Instruction, Clinical I & II, Ethics and Social Justice
Dr. Catherine Wilson Gillespie
catherine.gillespie@drake.edu
515-271-4602
B.A.: Wellesley College
M.Ed.: Lesley University
Ph.D.: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Research Interests:
Early childhood, eating disorders, changing pedagogies
Classes Taught:
Human Development, Early Childhood Education, Foundations of Education at the undergraduate and doctoral levels
