Dissertation of Distinction Award

The ICPEA Dissertation of Distinction Award recognizes outstanding dissertation research in the field of educational administration and leadership (PK-22), including the administration of schools and the preparation of educational leaders. The award will honor dissertations that demonstrate originality, methodological rigor, and a significant contribution to the field of educational administration research, policy, and/or practice. 
Submission Link: https://forms.gle/cVx449MbppJCvKcf8
Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026​

Due to the possible number of submissions and the review process, no late submissions will be accepted; as such, students are encouraged to complete their submissions well in advance of this deadline. All materials must be submitted via the online submission link. Email and/or hard copy submission will not be accepted.
Eligibility and Submission Guidelines
Dissertations considered for the ICPEA Dissertation of Distinction Award should:
  • Be successfully defended between June 1 and May 31 the previous year of the award date. For example, a dissertation considered for the award presented in Fall of 2026 must have been successfully defended by students who graduated in August 2025, December 2025, or May 2026.
  • Be submitted by the student, but sponsored by a current ICPEA member.
  • Align with the ICPEA mission.
  • Address significant research questions using original and methodologically rigorous approaches.
  • Significantly contribute to the literature on educational administration research, policy, and/or practice. 
Students must submit Part A and Part B using the link above and by the published deadline.

Part A - Cover Sheet Materials
  • One page vita
  • University granting degree and date granted
  • Title of degree
  • Name of sponsoring dissertation chair or committee member (must be current ICPEA member)
  • Title of dissertation
  • 150-word summary of abstract
  • Name, mailing address, phone, email of student submitting

Part B - Masked Abstract
Applicants are responsible for masking their identity for Part B submsisions. Remove all references to applicants' names, school, employer, location, and any other identifying information. Refer to https://epaa.asu.edu/index.php/epaa/Anonymization for help.
  • Title page (title only, no other identifying information) – do not count this page
  • Introduction – background of problem, purpose of research, significance of study
  • Theory/Rationale – discuss theoretical basis or literature base referring to the relevant literature
  • Methodology – sample, instrumentation, data collection, data analysis, validity/reliability (in appendix include additional information as needed)
  • Findings and Discussion – report and discuss findings
  • Conclusions, Implications for Practice & Recommendations – state conclusions, implications for practice, and make recommendations for future studies
  • References and Appendices - do not count these pages
The masked copy abstract should be six double-spaced pages exclusive of title page, references, and appendices. Only include references that are used in the abstract.
Criteria
The following criteria will be used to evaluate dissertations submitted for this award:
  • Quality, clarity, and precision of writing
  • Clear statement of the problem and purpose of the study
  • Clarity of research questions
  • Synthesis of relevant literature, theories, and/or concepts
  • Research design rigor and systematic execution of research methods
  • Presentation and interpretation of data/findings
  • Originality and unique contribution to the field of educational administration research, policy, and/or practice
Award
A committee of educational leadership professors from ICPEA member schools will determine the award recipient(s) and the awards committee chair will send notification(s). Recipient(s) will be invited to a future ICPEA meeting to present their scholarship, featured on our ICPEA website, and presented with an award (certificate and paid registration for the international ICPEL Annual Conference).
Contact
If you have interest in learning more or have questions, please contact the ICPEA president at [email protected] using the subject line: ICPEA Dissertation of Distinction Award.