Educational Technology Leadership News and Events

Come to the 2026 Reception for the Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership, Wednesday, December 9, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on the Kean University Union Campus. 

Join us for an evening of hors d’oeuvres and great conversation while learning about the Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership from faculty, administrators, current students, and alumni. 

Find out about our three-year cohort-based program, online courses, Summer Institute, and our commitment to being the most student-centered Ed.D. in the U.S. 

Learn about our 79% completion rate and how our graduates are using their degrees to become innovative leaders in K–12 districts, higher education, health and medical fields, entrepreneurship, and global education. 

For questions about the program, contact Dr. Christopher Shamburg at cshamburg@kean.edu

To RSVP to the reception, click here. 

The Educational Technology Program had a wonderful (and busy) experience at the 2026 Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA) Conference. Faculty, alum, and students presented and co-presented research on a variety of important topics. The collegiality and conversations at NERA were invigorating.  Here are the presentations: 

• Standing Before the Terminal: Doctoral Attrition at All but Dissertation Status (Shamburg, Sanders, Etheredge) 
• Tracing the Diffusion of Generative AI: Evolution of Education Influencers on TikTok (Mason, Zieger, Shamburg) 
• ChatGPT as Co-Grader: Evaluating AI Assessment in Graduate Education (Zieger, Shamburg, Mason) 
• Great Expectations: The Role of AI in Non-Technological Academic Disciplines (Shamburg, Abdallah) 
• Human Owned and Operated: Thematic Analysis that Leverages Artificial Intelligence (Shamburg) 

We are looking forward to next year’s conference. 

Dr. Joanna Antoniou (Cohort 6) is a trustee of the New Jersey Educational Computing Cooperative (NJECC) and the Supervisor of Educational Technology at Passaic Public Schools. She led the inaugural September 2026 NJECC meeting, which guided educators through thoughtful strategies for navigating the ongoing screen time debate in schools. The consensus was clear—technology is at its best when it acts as a bridge to deepen relationships, empathy, and community among students and staff.  

She assembled presenters from across the state and nation to share their insights and research. Over 200 educators from the region attended.  

Iesha Griggs, a doctoral student in Cohort 12 of the Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership program, has been selected as one of 27 educators nationwide to join the inaugural STEM Pioneers Teacher Corps. Funded by a $5 million National Science Foundation grant, this four-year initiative recognizes outstanding STEM educators and supports their professional growth through advanced training, research collaboration, and leadership development. 

Griggs is a fifth-grade mathematics and science teacher in Passaic Public Schools and holds three master’s degrees. Previously recognized as a New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellow, her doctoral research focuses on culturally responsive mathematics instruction, technology-mediated learning, and professional development.  

Dr. Matthew Farber (Cohort 1) has been named a Fellow in Learning, Innovation & Emerging Technologies at Phoenix Star Labs. 

Farber is an Associate Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Northern Colorado and Co-Director of the Gaming SEL Lab. His research focuses on game-based learning, social-emotional learning, and the use of emerging technologies to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences. 

Phoenix Star Labs is an international initiative focused on connecting education with the evolving economy. Its work brings together researchers, educators, and industry professionals to explore artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, workforce development, employability, and the future of learning. 

As a Fellow, Farber will contribute his expertise in game-based learning and educational technology to the organization’s research and professional community. 

Dr. Judith Francis (Cohort 7) has published a new book, Navigating Life’s Challenges with Discipline and Grace. The book offers practical guidance for developing a more balanced and productive life, combining personal insights, actionable strategies, and reflective activities. Francis encourages readers to approach life’s challenges with greater self-awareness, discipline, resilience, and purpose. 

Written as both a source of inspiration and a practical guide, Navigating Life’s Challenges with Discipline and Grace provides readers with tools for reflection, personal growth, and navigating change. 

Dr. Francis is a program manager of the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium. 

The book is available through Amazon and other booksellers. 

Dr. Lamont Harris (Cohort 9) will present at the CUBE 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago this October. Harris will present on student-led Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and person-centered special education planning, sharing approaches designed to give students with disabilities a stronger voice in their educational planning and decision-making. 

The CUBE Annual Conference brings together school board members, administrators, educators, and other education leaders from across the country. Harris’s presentation reflects his work in special education, curriculum development, educational technology, and student-centered learning. 

Dr. Harris is a learning consultant with the New Brunswick Public Schools, a commissioner of the Plainfield Public Schools, founder of Circle Learning Group, and an adjunct faculty member at Kean. 

Congratulations to Dr. Harris on this opportunity to share his work with a national audience. 

Dr. Christina “Pip” Pipkin (Cohort 11) recently delivered a TEDxBessiesCreek talk drawing on her personal experiences as the daughter of an incarcerated parent and nearly two decades of work in education. Her presentation challenges the idea that resilience alone is enough to help children overcome adversity, emphasizing instead the importance of supportive schools, communities, and relationships. This commitment to supporting children of incarcerated parents was also central to her doctoral dissertation research. 

Pipkin is the founder of FAYE Learning Center, an organization dedicated to helping children and families break generational cycles through education, belonging, and community support. Her TEDx talk highlights the responsibility of schools and communities to create environments where vulnerable children can thrive rather than simply expecting them to overcome challenges on their own. Congratulations to Dr. Pipkin on sharing this important message with a broader audience! 

Watch Dr. Pipkin’s TEDx Talkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ0aFX7r1PQ 

Dr. Wendy Thompson (Cohort 3), a Lead Teacher at A. Harry Moore School, is continuing her work as a 2026 Seesaw Ambassador. 

Seesaw is a digital learning platform designed to help students demonstrate and share their learning through photos, videos, drawings, audio, and other multimedia tools. Dr. Thompson has been a leader in using the platform in comprehensive and innovative ways with students who have severe and multiple disabilities. 

As an ambassador, Thompson shares innovative ways educators can use Seesaw to support student learning, engagement, and voice. One of her favorite approaches is using the platform’s multimodal response features, which allow students to demonstrate their learning in different ways and build greater confidence and ownership. 

Congratulations to Dr. Thompson on continuing her leadership in educational technology! 

Dr. Jeffrey Kontio (Cohort 10) has been elected to the Executive Committee of ACM SIGUCCS (Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on University and College Computing Services). He has also been appointed to serve as both Secretary and Professional Development Coordinator. SIGUCCS is a professional community dedicated to supporting information technology professionals in higher education through collaboration, professional development, and knowledge sharing. 

In his new roles, Kontio will support board governance, coordinate professional development webinars and community meetups, and explore revitalizing the SIGUCCS Mentoring Program. Drawing on his doctoral research interests in communities of practice, he hopes to strengthen professional networks and encourage peer-to-peer learning among higher education technology professionals. Congratulations to Dr. Kontio on this leadership appointment! 

Dr. Patricia Dennis (Cohort 9) has been named a Fulbright Scholar and will spend seven months in South Africa partnering with the University of Pretoria. Dennis will share innovative approaches to school libraries, demonstrating how they can become dynamic learning spaces for everything from media literacy and digital citizenship to STEM and experiential learning. 

Dennis has built a career creating innovative and inclusive learning experiences as a school librarian and educational technology leader. She is also beginning a new role as director of the School Library Media Specialist program at William Paterson University. Her Fulbright work builds on a career devoted to expanding what school libraries can offer and helping educators create engaging, interdisciplinary opportunities for students. 

Dr. Katie Nieves Licwinko (Cohort 7) recently presented in an ISTE+ASCD Expert Webinar focused on empowering women to pursue leadership roles in educational technology. 

In the webinar, Nieves Licwinko discussed the ways school districts can actively support women interested in technology leadership and create stronger pathways to leadership opportunities. She shared practical strategies for aspiring leaders, administrators, and educators working to advance equity in educational technology. 

The webinar reflects Nieves Licwinko’s ongoing work in educational technology, leadership, and advocacy for women in the field. 

Congratulations to Dr. Nieves Licwinko on sharing her expertise with the broader educational technology community. 

Dr. Daun Ward (Cohort 4) has been appointed to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Social Studies New Jersey Student Learning Standards College and Career Readiness Committee. In this role, she will contribute her expertise in social studies education and teacher preparation to work supporting the state’s learning standards and college and career readiness efforts. Dr. Ward is a faculty member in Kean University’s College of Education, where she works in teacher preparation with a focus on social studies education. 

 Congratulations to Dr. Ward on this appointment and the opportunity to help shape the future of social studies education across New Jersey! 

Our 2026 Ed.D. Summer Institute ran from July 20–24, but the memories and excitement live on. It was a week of learning, hard fun, and lifelong connections. 
 
Our newest cohort (K1) bonded and flourished as doctoral students. Cohort 13 passed (and excelled in) their comprehensive exams, and Cohort 12 defended their dissertation proposals, flexed their portfolios, and shared their dissertation projects in our research symposium.  
 
We had activities related to thematic analysis, scaling Mt. Everest, the ethics of AI, adaptive leadership, the design of buttons, the best seats for a soccer game, and thriving in a world of constant change.