Sean Schofield
Ph.D. - Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Higher Education Administration
Education
William & Mary, Ph.D. - Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership - Higher Education Administration
Describe your career and how the William & Mary School of Education helped prepare you.
I have worked in higher education for 15 years and presently serve as Executive Director of Career Development for Muhlenberg College (a small, private liberal arts college in Allentown, PA). Getting my Ph.D. at William & Mary allowed me to jump-start my career progression, and has continually served me throughout my role in a leadership capacity in several ways. In the School of Education, I developed a true and deep appreciation for using data to inform decision-making, tell important stories, and be more inclusive with departments across campus. At Muhlenberg, to shape our path forward, I led my team of 7 through strategic planning, which I learned and practiced in my classes, and I have frequently cited theorists and practices that I pull directly from my experiences as a Ph.D. student. Additionally, having a Ph.D. has opened doors to deep collaborations with faculty from disciplines that have traditionally not engaged with career development, and many of the initial conversations that I've had networking across our faculty have been about my dissertation and other research across our faculty have been about my dissertation and other research that I've performed. In addition to the external legitimacy I enjoy from completing the program, I also learned a tremendous amount about myself, my leadership style, my leadership frame, and how to think differently about team motivation and stakeholder engagement. These all give me a tremendous amount of confidence in my work and have helped me rise into a leadership position across campus.
Why did you choose to apply to William & Mary and specifically to your program?
I have always had a deep fondness for Williamsburg, and have always been excited by symbolism and excellence. To me, William & Mary is replete with both of these things. The rich history of the university, coupled with the significance it has and has had on a national scale helped me to picture myself there. Additionally, the ceremonial aspects continually provided me with motivation throughout my journey as a doctoral student and candidate. Regarding excellence, I was enamored by the faculty, but I also felt like I belonged in the classroom. Faculty didn't see themselves as experts that we download knowledge from; they truly treated our classes as opportunities to lean on theory and practice and create knowledge and innovation in a shared space. As a person with (at that point) over a decade of higher education experience, this meant a lot to me because it could tie my experiences to what we were learning and provide me with actionable information and uses for the academic content. I chose the higher education program both for the flexibility of allowing me to be a part-time student and full-time employee but also because I set my sights on college/university leadership, and the program is designed to provide flexibility to identify learning domains that you'd like to focus more on, as well as dive deeply into leadership, make sense of policy, and learn the tools to be an effective strategic planner.
What has been the most influential experience as an alum?
I think the most exciting opportunities I've had as an alum have been being invited back to give professional development presentations and engaging in the mentorship program. I love that the School of Education considers me a valuable resource for present students, and my mentor/mentee connection was perfect timing, as I could work with my mentee on professional development objectives immediately from the start of our relationship. It helped me feel useful but also allowed me to stay connected to my alma mater and learn about program developments and things about the campus that I miss dearly. I hope to always remain connected in these (and other) ways because it gives me a taste of "home" (my Tribe home) and a continued connection to the university that I love so much.
Any additional information you think a prospective student should know about the School of Education and our degree programs?
The most important advice I can give anyone considering our School of Education and its programs would be that you will absolutely get what you give. By that, I mean that if you are willing to put in effort, be reflective, and put what you learn to use, you will have a profound educational experience. I expected a lot of myself, and I gave a lot to the program, and it was all repaid (and then some). Not only do I have incredible technical skills from my time in the program, but I also have changed how I view problems, people-leadership, and the tools I have in my toolkit to apply to solving those problems. I also have a great network of peers I went through this experience alongside, and I know that we will continue to remain close (celebrating all of our promotions, life events, and other milestones). We have a built-in network of educational leaders as we navigate our career transitions.
