Q&A with M.Ed. in Educational Leadership Graduates

by Kailey Galloway

Why choose UNC Charlotte?

Waters desired to become a scholar within the UNC system while remaining local to the Charlotte area. The hybrid schedule at UNC Charlotte was a great fit for her, and she appreciated the flexibility of the course offerings. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “I loved the flexibility of the course schedules. UNC Charlotte was local to me, and I felt UNC Charlotte’s learning environment aligned with what I needed in order to succeed.” She chose the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program because of her passion for student support and development, as well as her desire to serve in a leadership role where she could have a direct impact on student growth.

What has been the highlight of her time at Charlotte? 

One of the highlights of her time at Charlotte has been the relationships she developed throughout the program. Waters met and worked closely with students and instructors who helped keep her on track and accountable. Coming to class never felt daunting, and she always felt welcomed in an environment where everyone respected each other’s opinions.

What about the biggest challenge she’s overcome?

One of the biggest challenges for Waters was also something she ended up enjoying most about the program: the discussions. During her undergraduate studies, most of her classes were traditional lecture courses, but this program was different. At first, participating felt difficult, but she overcame that hurdle.

Waters shared, “I have gained so much knowledge from open discussions with my peers and instructors and learned to gain the confidence to be more involved.” Through these experiences, she became more comfortable speaking up, engaging with others and learning from different perspectives.

What would she tell someone thinking about entering the program?

If someone were interested in entering the M.Ed. in the Educational Leadership program at UNC Charlotte, Waters would say, “Go for it!” She shared, “I can honestly say I enjoyed this program and I am not the same person I was when I entered.” She encourages others to be prepared to work and learn, but also to meet great instructors, make connections with peers and engage in rich conversations where you “laugh, cry, and get involved.”

What’s next post-graduation?

After graduation, Waters plans to continue working in higher education and is actively pursuing a program director role. She knows the path may not be straight, but her larger goal is to have a direct influence on student outcomes and be involved in decision-making that helps shape institutional growth.

Why UNC Charlotte? 

Clegg chose UNC Charlotte for his degree because the program emphasizes preparing educational leaders to foster growth and creativity among diverse populations in higher education. He completed his undergraduate degree at UNC Charlotte, so he felt confident it would also be a strong fit for his master’s program. He emphasized, “I loved being a scholar at UNC Charlotte for my undergraduate and master’s degrees.”

Why did he choose this degree program?

Clegg took a gap year between 2023 and 2024 and was in the process of deciding which graduate programs to apply to. While working as a community resources specialist at the United Way call center, he shared, “I read the description for the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and knew it was something I wanted to do.” He emphasized that the program offered many career options, and previous graduates had a strong track record of obtaining roles as advisors, coordinators and specialists, which aligned with his goals to work in an higher education administrative role.

What has been the highlight of his time at Charlotte? 

Clegg revealed that studying at UNC Charlotte has been a positive experience for him throughout his undergraduate studies and, more specifically, during his master’s degree. He shared, “I built strong professional relationships with the faculty and made friends with students at both the master’s and doctoral level.” He especially enjoyed hearing different perspectives and exchanging ideas within a close-knit community of intellectually engaged peers in his program.

What would he tell someone thinking about entering the program?

For individuals interested in a program in educational administration in higher education or K–12 settings, Clegg emphasized that this is the program to apply for. There are opportunities to learn about program planning in education, educational leadership theories, finance and budgeting, as well as internship experiences. He expressed, “It is a tight-knit program with exemplary professors, and there are opportunities for professional development through conferences, Educational Leadership Student Organization events, and networking events.”

Is there anyone who was especially influential in his journey at Charlotte? 

Many faculty members served as mentor figures to Clegg to support him through the program. The three faculty members he leaned on most were Cathy Howell, Carmen Serrata, and Alan Mabe. He shared, “Dr. Howell has been my advisor and taught me so much about adult learning and program planning. Dr. Serrata taught me about numerous leadership theories and applications, and Dr. Mabe assisted me with understanding the budgeting side of higher education.”