Career Opportunities
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
How will a USC Rossier Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EDL) degree benefit your career? Learn more about how our program will prepare you for employment and see how some USC Rossier alumni are using their degrees.
Employment Preparation
The EDL program prepares you for a variety of educational leadership careers. In addition to being a renowned program from a prominent university, EDL empowers you with competitive skills through its blend of critical theory and real-world experience.
As an EDL graduate, you boost your eligibility for leadership positions across multiple industries. Check out these statistics from a survey with our alumni over the past 10 years about how USC Rossier prepared them for employment:
95%
of EDL alumni said their USC Rossier education prepared them to be more effective in their career
89%
of EDL alumni said their studies at USC Rossier prepared them well for future employment
90%
of EDL alumni said their studies at USC Rossier prepared them to understand research
10%
Less than 10% of EDL alumni took more than six months to find a job after graduating from USC Rossier
Career Services
USC Rossier’s Career Services website provides robust tools to help you prepare for employment.
Explore the job portal
Find your next position, store your resume and cover letter, and set up email alerts.
Connect with alumni
Send direct messages, join groups, and get career advice.
Get event details
Meet representatives from dozens of organizations at our career fairs, or network with alumni at our leadership conferences.
Visit Career Management 101 Our complete online module helps you navigate your career with job search strategies, resume guidance, interview techniques and more.
Alumni Network
USC Rossier EDL graduates belong to a distinguished network of more than 3,000 program alumni, 80+ sitting superintendents and numerous senior-level K-12 and university administrators, instructional experts and entrepreneurial educators.
Additionally, as a USC graduate, you join the Trojan Family and gain access to a variety of valuable benefits. Whether it’s assisting your search for a job, connecting you with other alumni, or providing special offers, the USC alumni network supports you long after you graduate.
Educational Leadership Careers
Explore some of the current positions held by alumni in each EDL concentration. Click on a name to view the alumni’s LinkedIn profile.
Educational Psychology Career Paths:
The Educational Psychology concentration prepares you for your employment in areas such as instructional design, human performance personnel, school/community counseling and more.
Current positions of some of our graduates include:
- Sudhakar Ravada, EdD ‘19,
Innovation Program Manager, Applied Materials - Erin Abshere EdD ’16, Managing Director, School Performance Accountability and Research, California Charter Schools Association
- Marco Masoni EdD ’15, Dean of Innovation, The Derryfield School
- Grace Losada EdD ’14, Vice President of Education, Fusion Education Group
Higher Education Administration Career Paths:
The Higher Education Administration concentration prepares you for employment in senior administration in two- and four-year colleges, academic executive positions, key leadership roles in education-related organizations, and more.
Current positions of some of our graduates include:
- Rosalind Conerly, EdD ‘17, Associate Dean of Students & Director, Stanford University
- Mirasol Espanola ’04, Executive Director, Undergraduate Advising & Programs, School of Business, George Washington University, Washington, DC
- Brandon Martin ’02, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, California State University, Northridge
- Soncia Reagins-Lilly ’99, Vice President forStudent Affairs and Dean of Students, University of Texas, Austin
K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings Career Paths:
The K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings concentration prepares you for employment as a superintendent, pre-K – 12 administrative roles including site principal, K-12 policy positions, and more.
Current positions of some of our graduates include:
- Lucy Salazar, EdD ‘18, Director of Community Partnerships, Long Beach Unified School District
- Kevin Baxter ’04, Chief Innovation Officer, National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Gabriela Mafi ’02, Superintendent, Garden Grove Unified School District
- Richard Sheehan ’02, Superintendent, Covina-ValleyUnified School District
- Gregory Franklin ’97, Superintendent, Tustin Unified School District
Leading Instructional Change Career Paths:
The Leading Instructional Change program prepares you for positions such as university faculty member, professional development specialist, curriculum developer/administrator and more.
Current positions of some of our graduates include:
- Jennifer Edic Bryant EdD ’16, Director, Metrics & LCAP, Azusa Unified School District
- David Dunstan EdD’14, Director, Student Support & Intervention, Antelope Valley Union High School District
- Xiamora Mateo-Gaxiola EdD ’14, Senior Director of Teaching & Learning, Los Angeles Education Partnership
EDL Alumni Related Links
Check out these stories featuring EDL alumni:
- EDL Alumna Founds New School That Serves Students Impacted by Homelessness
- Dream and Grow: Alum Founds World-Class Bilingual School
- Keeping the Dream of Education Alive for Immigrant Students