From Five Students to More Than 1,000 Graduates: Celebrating 30 Years of Immaculata’s Ed.D. Program

by Mark Hammons

“It changed my whole approach to leadership.”

What began as a small program with just five students has grown into a cornerstone of educational leadership in Pennsylvania. When Immaculata University launched the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Administration program in 1991, it was designed to meet a growing demand for doctoral-level education in Chester County. More than three decades later, that vision has expanded far beyond its original scope. 

This year, Immaculata celebrates the 30^th anniversary of the inaugural graduating class, as well as reaching the remarkable milestone of over 1,000 program graduates (1,028 as of Spring 2026). Graduates from this Ed.D. program can be found serving at all levels in school districts and educational organizations, and driving meaningful change in their schools and communities.

“Our graduates are making a meaningful impact as school leaders across the state, serving as superintendents, assistant superintendents, intermediate unit executive directors, principals, assistant principals, teachers and school district leaders in diverse educational settings,” shares Sister Carol Anne Couchara, Professor Emerita and Ed.D. Program Director. “Our alumni are well prepared to lead school districts and schools through complex challenges, earning the trust of their communities and advancing excellence in education wherever they serve.”

The program’s emphasis on both theoretical foundation and real-world application have been a hallmark of the program since its inception. 

Marcy Hessinger, Ed.D. ’98, one of the program’s first students, recalls her decision to enroll, “I heard that Immaculata would be starting a doctoral program here in Chester County with courses taught by instructional leaders from local school districts.”

At the time, she was serving as an assistant principal and caring for her one-year-old son, Anton, making it unfeasible to travel to Philadelphia for classes.

“I waited for the program to begin,” Hessinger said.  “Having courses taught by local, practicing administrators provided a framework for understanding both theory and practice. This prepared me to become a principal and for other roles I’ve held throughout my career; it changed my approach to leadership.” 

The program experienced growth over the next several years, which Hessinger witnessed firsthand. She recalls, “My first course had five or six students, but over the next couple of years, the program grew to include students from Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties.  It expanded my network tremendously.” 

During this time, the superintendent of Conewago Valley School District and several colleagues were interested in joining the program, but the two-hour drive to campus from Adams County wasn’t feasible. 

“So they asked if we could bring the program to them, and that’s what we did,” recalls Sister Anne Marie Burton, Professor Emerita and former Chair of Immaculata’s Education Division, “The classes were all offered at the school district, and as interest grew, we quickly expanded to surrounding school districts in York County and near Gettysburg, and offered the classes as cohorts.”

The cohort model, a delivery format where the same group of learners progress through their coursework together, allowed Immaculata to develop strategic partnerships with school districts and offer classes at their locations, responding to regional needs and meeting educators where they are. 

Throughout the years, cohorts have been offered as close to campus as Downingtown Area School District and as far as Towanda Area School District near the New York border.  Graduates from these cohorts go on to serve as district leaders and carry forward Immaculata’s mission beyond our campus in Chester County to their own communities. 

Anton Ocepek, M.S., Assistant Principal of Avon Grove High School, continues his mother Marcy’s legacy as a doctorally prepared educational leader from Immaculata University and, as a fourth-generation educator who always knew his purpose, entered Immaculata’s doctoral program in 2024 to pursue his lifelong goal of earning a doctoral degree.

“As the son and grandson of administrators, and fourth generation educator, I’ve been listening to conversations about education around the dinner table for as long as I can remember.”  

Many of those conversations early-on were with his mother, when she was pursuing her doctoral degree at Immaculata University.

“I can’t overstate the amount of learning I’ve experienced through conversations with faculty about their experiences in education. Their expertise has helped challenge some of my own pre-existing beliefs and developed me into a more forward-thinking educational leader,” he explained. 

As Immaculata celebrates 30 years since graduating its first Ed.D. class, the milestone is more than just a recognition of the past, it’s a reflection on a legacy that continues to unfold.  From five students in 1996 to 1,009 program graduates today, its impact is felt in schools and communities across Pennsylvania and beyond, preparing educational leaders for today’s challenges and those still to come.