Congratulations to Jesse Lubinsky who on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, successfully defended his dissertation proposal.
The title of Jesse’s dissertation is "SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LEARNING: A QUALITATIVE INQUIRY INTO INNOVATION AND MICRO-CREDENTIAL ADOPTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION."
Overview of Problem: Higher education institutions are under increasing pressure to adopt innovative credentials such as micro-credentials, yet limited research examines how individuals within institutions experience and make sense of these adoption efforts. Existing studies largely focus on technical or conceptual aspects, leaving the human and organizational dimensions of innovation adoption underexplored.
Research Purpose: The purpose of this interpretive qualitative study is to examine how higher education professionals make meaning of the process of adopting innovation, using micro-credentialing as the focal example. Guided by Activity Theory and Diffusion of Innovation, integrated together through a Fusion Model, the study seeks to illuminate how organizational context, roles, and interactions shape adoption experiences.
Research Design: This study employs a Basic Interpretive Inquiry design to explore participants’ interpretations and sensemaking related to innovation adoption within higher education institutions.
Sample: Participants include administrators, faculty, and professional staff within the State University of New York (SUNY) system who are directly involved in micro-credentialing initiatives.
Data Collection: Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and analysis of institutional documents related to micro-credentialing initiatives.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Dr. Yiping Wan
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Gerald Ardito
Dr. Micah Shippee
Take Your Career to the Next Level
Elevate your leadership skills, deepen your understanding of critical and contemporary education issues, and learn to help solve the current challenges in P-20 education.
Learn to Inspire Change
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, offered in partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, utilizes a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership that is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders in any educational context. It is designed to support the goals of educational professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills for career advancement or current job enhancement. 
