Faculty and Staff
Dr. Clifford
O. Brookhart
Affiliate Faculty: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Degree: Ed.D. - University of Northern Colorado
Areas of Expertise: Principalship/Superintendent
Research Interests: Policy in K-12/University Partnership
Professional Highlights: 30 years as School & District Leader
Email: clifford.brookhart@unco.edu
Room: 418B
Phone: (970) 351-1156
Dr. Martha Cray
Assistant Professor: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Degree: Ph.D. University of Connecticut
Areas of expertise: Policy Development and Analysis; School Reform and Program Evaluation
Research Interests: Policy Development and Implementation and School Restructuring
Professional Highlights: As an assistant superintendent, Dr. Cray was charged with implementing a performance-based salary schedule for K – 12 personnel and a program-based budget. Dr. Cray is the co-author of one of the Essentials for Principals series on observing teachers published by the National Association of Elementary Principals. Dr. Cray has also served as a senior research associate at the Center for Resource Management; a partner in the North East Regional Education Lab at Brown University in the Secondary School Reform Initiative; a principal investigator in the implementation study of the National Secondary School Administrators’ Breaking Ranks recommendations; and the primary investigator for the New York City Board of Education “Turn Around Schools” study, a look at the patterns and strategies exhibited by at-risk schools that led to success effects in achievement.
Email: martha.cray@unco.edu
Room: 402
Phone: (970) 351-2960
Dr. Michael J. Gimmestad
Professor, Educational
Leadership and Policy Studies and and Coordinator: Higher
Education and Student Affairs Leadership (Ph.D.)
Degree: Ph.D. - University of Minnesota
Areas of Expertise: Organizational theory and applications to leadership, college and university curriculum
Research Interests: Policy development and analysis, program review and evaluation
Email: michael.gimmestad@unco.edu
Room: 414
Phone: (970) 351-2530
Dr. Linda
Vogel
Assistant Professor: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Degree: Ph. D. - Illinois State University
Areas of Expertise: State and Local Education (P-12) Leadership, Assessment, Teacher and Administrator Evaluation, Standards-Based Curricular Implementation, School Improvement, Professional Development, School Reform Policy and Finance
Research Interests: Leadership for the development of assessment literacy and development of educational policy
Professional Highlights: A former principal at the high school and middle school levels where she implemented several service learning and community anti-bullying and harassment programs, she has worked with large urban districts on building internal leadership capacity and minority leader recruitment through the Illinois State Action for Leadership project. Dr. Vogel has conducted research on state education policy implementation, standards-based assessment and school finance and developed state-wide training for the supervision of certified staff. Her current research projects include a standards-based assessment study funded by the Spencer Foundation and serving as project director of the Native American Innovative Leadership program, an online interdisciplinary master's degree program leading to principal and special education director licensure.
Email: linda.vogel@unco.edu
Room: 421A
Phone: (970) 351-2119
Dr. Spencer C. Weiler
Assistant Professor: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Degree: Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institution and State University
Areas of Expertise: School law and school finance topics
Research Interests: I am fascinated with virtually all topics related to public education. An example of my current interests include: measuring the impact of a new facility on student achievement; historical analysis of the federal government role in public education; impact of involving parents in the discipline process; faith-based volunteer efforts; the role of websites in promoting schools to the general public; a cost analysis of the fees associated with attending school in Colorado and the impact on student participation based on socio-economic status.
Professional Highlights: My path in public education began with student teaching in a public high school alternative education program. That opportunity segued into a traditional teaching experience where my challenge was to apply the conceptual framework of the alternative program to a traditional classroom. I entered school administration as an assistant principal of a junior high school transitioning to a middle school. I also had the opportunity to work at a high functioning middle school for three years. After fourteen years in public education, I am honored to be at UNC teaching school finance and school law to prospective administrators.
Email: spencer.weiler@unco.edu
Phone: (970) 351-1016
Room: 401
Dr. Kathryn S. Whitaker
Professor and ELPS Program
Coordinator: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Degree: Ph.D. - Vanderbilt University
Areas of Expertise: Principalship, person-centered leadership, school reform
Research Interests: Issues relating to the principalship
Email: kathryn.whitaker@unco.edu
Room: 418A
Phone: (970) 351-2507