For Dionne Jackson, wife, mother, and Ed.D. student, coming to Baylor was not just about academics. "When my husband and I decided that I would leave my full-time job to become a full-time graduate student, I wasn't certain I would find an academically rigorous program that would understand the primary roles I play."

Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction Program

The curriculum and instruction doctorate degree, taught through The School of Education at Baylor, offers a challenging and in-depth study of curriculum and instruction, research foundations, and a cognate area.

"This program is one of the most comprehensive Ed.D. programs I found within the region," she says. "I was very impressed with the courses required for the program and was also impressed with the professors' scholarly work and connections within the local community."

Justice and Equity Issues

Dionne's research and interests include justice and equity issues in education, as well as methods for improving K-12 science teaching with which she plans to pursue a career as a professor of education and possibly an entrepreneur.

She actively participates in the Seminars for Excellence in Teaching (SET) program, offered through Baylor's Graduate School, that gives graduate students who teach the opportunity to enhance their skills by attending workshops on topics related to teaching at the college level. "These seminars are truly beneficial," Dionne says, "especially for those without prior teaching experience."

Supportive, Accessible Faculty

With one semester under her belt, in addition to the academic challenge, she continues to experience the depth of support and encouragement she received before she ever stepped foot onto campus. "My classmates and professors frequently ask about my family, and when on campus, are greeted by members of the Baylor community," she says. "With the knowledgeable, accessible faculty and supportive spirit among my classmates, I highly recommend the program."

Baylor seems to have provided the ideal place for this multi-faceted woman, managing schoolwork with family life and chasing her life-long dreams. "I have the best of both worlds," she admits, "a campus and program that accepts and appreciates me as a wife and mother and a program that is academically rigorous."