The Future of Education

Betty J. Alford, PhD is professor, doctoral program director, and department chair for the Educational Leadership Department at California State Polytechnic State University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). She has served as a tenured professor at Cal Poly Pomona for ten years. She is also Professor Emeritus from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) where she taught for 27 years. University. At SFA, she served as Doctoral Program Coordinator and Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership Chair for 10 years. She also co-authored and served as director and/or principal investigator for partnership educational grants totaling over $20 million.
Alford has a wide breadth of experience in PK-12 education, principal preparation, and educational leadership doctoral programs. Previous educational experiences included service as a middle school and high school teacher, a high school counselor, an assistant elementary school principal, and a middle school principal. Her research agenda has centered on improving access and equity in high-need schools, educational leadership program improvement, and strengthening a college-going culture in schools. She has served as a member of the International School Leadership Development Network, an international research network affiliated with the University Council of Educational Leadership, for the past 10 years, and teaches a course in global education as part of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Cal Poly Pomona. Dr. Alford attained her PhD in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.