Cultivating Critical Consciousness

Building an EdD-Activist Identity

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2025.590

Keywords:

educator activism, dissertation in practice (DiP), Doctor of Education (EdD program), social justice

Abstract

I began my higher academic journey as a student of political science and history, aiming to engage with and improve my communities. However, by 2016, I became disillusioned with my work in politics and left to pursue a career in education, focusing on developing civic education for my students. The University of South Carolina’s EdD program, with its emphasis on social justice and dedication to teacher activism, transformed my view of the teacher's role as an educator. Surprisingly, USC’s doctoral program helped bridge the gap between my academic disciplines, offering opportunities to explore how political science, history, and education intersect to foster educational activism. This article reflects on my ongoing journey of becoming an EdD activist through the University of South Carolina’s EdD program and discusses how we can continue supporting teachers involved in EdD activism after completing the dissertation in practice, from a program graduate’s perspective.

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Published

2025-11-11

How to Cite

Wright, A. (2025). Cultivating Critical Consciousness: Building an EdD-Activist Identity . Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 10(4), 46–51. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2025.590

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2025): EdD-Activism: The Dissertation in Practice and Beyond

Section

Themed- EdD-Activism: The Dissertation in Practice and Beyond

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Copyright (c) 2025 Ashley Wright

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