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JERSEY CITY, N.J. | On May 27, the  (Ұ������) Department of Educational Technology (EdTech) held a doctoral hooding and master's honors ceremony for its 2025 graduates, marking the 10th cohort of EdTech doctoral graduates to earn an Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership.

The Ұ������ EdTech doctoral and master's programs are nationally recognized for their excellence. The program launched during the 2013-14 academic year as a three-year commitment, with the first graduating class in 2016. The Class of 2025 began their doctoral journey in July 2022.

The Educational Technology Department has previously earned prestigious national rankings for its innovative programs. The department has been ranked 1st in the Nation by the College Affordability Guide, while the Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership was ranked 9th in the Nation by Top Education Degrees. Additionally, the Department's M.A. in Educational Technology was ranked 3rd in the Nation for Online Educational Technology Programs by the Center for Online Education.

Christopher Shamburg, Ed.D., Professor and Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Educational Technology Leadership, said:  "It's an honor to work with this group of educators. In service and innovation, these graduates don't follow standards—they set the standard. I'm excited to see what they do next."

Laura Zieger, Ed.D., Professor and Chair of the Educational Technology Department added: “Our graduating master’s and doctoral students embody the innovation, leadership, and dedication that drive the future of education. We are proud of all they’ve achieved and excited for the impact they will continue to make.”

The program's accredited offerings are at the forefront of the field, employing project-based approaches, emerging technologies, and adherence to industry standards. Ұ������'s EdTech graduates have achieved prominence as technology leaders at the national level.
 

This graduating class includes several notable achievements, including Melissa Welz, an identical twin whose sister Krista Welz graduated in 2019 as part of Cohort 4, making them the first siblings to complete the doctoral program. The class also celebrates Randy Narvaez-Ruiz, who exemplified commitment to his nation and education, completing his doctoral studies while deployed overseas as a member of the New Jersey Air National Guard, where he is assigned to the 177th Fighter Wing Civil Engineering Squadron in Egg Harbor Township.

The following 12 students were hooded at the ceremony and graduated at Ұ������'s Commencement with an Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership. Their final dissertations are noted below and were also announced during the May 28 Commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center. 
 
 

• Nadia Abdallah - Empowering Arab Youth: The Role of a Digital Learning Platform on Youth in Palestine, Lebanon, and Yemen
• Danielle Degraw - Podcasting as a School Communication Tool: A Case Study
• Patrick Fernandez - TikTok-Based Learning and Communities of Practice
• Janet E. George - Exploring Urban Middle and High School Math Teachers' Experiences with Adaptive Learning Systems as Educational Tools
• Tiffany T. Grant-Simmons - A Qualitative Study Exploring Technology Integration in Early Childhood Classrooms
• Jeffrey P. Kontio Jr. - Shifting to a Culture of Digital Accessibility in Higher Education: A Proactive Framework for Instructional Design
• Vanessa L. Mendoza - Raising the Bar: Inquiry into Enhancing the Virtual Onboarding Journey of Sales Professionals
• Randy Narvaez-Ruiz - Assessing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Teacher Burnout: A Mixed-Methods Study
• Enrique M. Noguera - Exploring the Informal Adoption of ChatGPT and Other Generative AI Tools Among Community College Faculty: A Qualitative Study
• Ojas Ray - Transforming Education: Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Teacher Efficiency
• Violet Kalanne Robinson - A Qualitative Case Study of Elementary Teachers' Experience with an Artificial Intelligence–Powered Adaptive Reading Platform
• Melissa Welz - Harmonizing Technology and Tradition: A Study of Effective Strategies for Implementing Music Technology in K–12 Education

The diverse research topics of Cohort 10 reflect the program's commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in educational technology, from artificial intelligence integration to digital accessibility and emerging platforms like TikTok and podcasting in educational settings.

Additionally, the following 32 students were honored for achieving a master’s degree in Educational Technology:

𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

• Sana Abdelfattah
• Emily Abreu
• Charles Stephen Alchermes IV
• Sarah Megan Bickel
• Lauren M. Blank
• Shenika LaShunda Lonei' Branch
• Kelly Lynn Reed Brenner*
• Michelle Candelaria
• Jennifer Marie Costal-Furgione
• Ashley Marie Dermek
• Victoria Lauren Garcia
• Jeffrey M. Grugan
• Kirstyn Heller
• Katherine Hellings
• Amy Catherine Hinkson
• Christopher V. Ippolito
• Daniel Phillip Kavanagh
• Kelly A. Keil
• Dofi Kuvodu
• Tiffany Brooke Loveland*
• Nancy Gorman Lukas
• Asia I. Mcgoy
• Samantha Lauren Melworm*
• Nicole Nicholas
• Patricia Noll
• Caridad Morales Nussa  **
• Danielle Pappalardo
• Robert P. Smarz
• Kayte Lynne Snyder
• Emily M. Swanson
• Dina Elise Toledo
• Mark Richard Zdziarski**

*August 2024 Graduates
**August 2025 Tentative Candidates

About Ұ������: 
Ұ������ is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, Ұ������ offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.

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Contact: 
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301