Ali Blankinship
Ph.D. - Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Curriculum & Educational Technology
Education
2022, William & Mary, Ph.D. - Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Curriculum & Educational Technology
Describe your career and how the William & Mary School of Education helped prepare you.
I currently serve as the Director of Program Management and Instructional Quality for the Center for Online Learning at William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business. I manage a portfolio of highly ranked online graduate business programs, collaborating with faculty through all stages of program development and delivery. Through this work, I ensure the appropriate policies, processes, and resources are in place to deliver high-quality online education that fosters faculty engagement and student success at scale. Additionally, I serve as the recruiting and hiring manager for a diverse network of over 45 world-class online adjunct faculty spread across the United States.
I would not be in a director-level position today had I not decided to pursue my Ph.D. from William & Mary. The EPPL program gave me the knowledge and skills necessary to serve in a leadership role. I have a clear vision of excellence for my current position and am confident in my ability to apply research to practice. I am extremely grateful for the education I received from William & Mary.
What do you hope to be doing after graduation? In 10 or 15 years?
My aspirations vary from serving as an executive leader in a public school system to working with a non-profit organization. I want to create opportunities for our students to use their creative abilities and explore post-secondary options in pursuit of their own goals.
Why did you choose to apply to William & Mary and specifically to your program?
When I decided to pursue a doctoral degree, the EPPL program at William & Mary was my first choice. I liked that I would get to study policy, planning, and leadership with students with various interests and backgrounds. The Curriculum & Educational Technology concentration (now Curriculum & Educational Leadership) also aligned with my academic and professional interests, making the program a perfect fit.
What has been the most influential experience as an alum?
I developed my strategic planning and leadership skills through the EPPL program, enabling me to identify the people, policies, processes and resources needed to scale and sustain major initiatives. As an alum, I’ve continued honing these skills and have been able to put my dissertation research into practice through my current position, which has been very rewarding.
Any additional information you think a prospective student should know about the School of Education and our degree programs?
When you come to the School of Education at William & Mary, you are learning from some of the best and brightest minds in the field. The professors are extremely dedicated to their students and will work to make sure the program is relevant to your academic and professional interests. Though my classes were in the evenings after a long day at work, I usually left feeling energized and inspired by the topics discussed. Being a part-time student while working full-time was no easy task, but it was absolutely worth it!
