What Our Students Say

"Cal Lutheran offers classes at times that make work and furthering my education a possibility. No other program offers courses on the weekends. Cal Lutheran's program also allows you to complete the dissertation during the summer. This structure met my needs and was a good fit. The support of the faculty is priceless and really what makes this program stand out from the rest."

Amanda Romero
Director and Instructor,
Health and Human Services Program
Department of Sociology Mount St. Mary's College

"I was looking for a competitive doctoral program with reputable faculty who had done extensive research on Latino students in higher education. I was looking at Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs at several schools. I attended an information session at Cal Lutheran and the inviting atmosphere and attention I received convinced me that Cal Lutheran was the right fit for me. The faculty are the heart and soul of this program, because they care so much about our success."

Francisco Dorame
Director, TRIO Student Support Services
Allan Hancock College

"Cal Lutheran's Ed.D. program is great for working adults. Working a full-time job on a college campus right now, I was looking for something that was a hybrid mix of in-classroom instruction as well as online. Cal Lutheran's program was a great fit. Something else that stands out about Cal Lutheran is the relationships I have with the faculty and the cohorts. This is a great place to build life-long relationships. "

Tim Harrison
Dean of Physical Education, Health,
Athletics and East Campus
Ventura County Community College District

"My experience at Cal Lutheran has been welcoming, personal and supportive of academic and professional success. Doctoral study is truly transformational and will affect how and what you think about. At Cal Lutheran, you will have faculty and peers who challenge you, enlighten you, lift you on those days when you are overwhelmed, and celebrate alongside you all that you are capable of accomplishing."

Anne Byrne Tumbarello
Director, Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program
Mount St. Mary's College, Los Angeles

"I was looking for a program with a convenient location close to my home in Chatsworth. I was also looking for a program where I could continue working full-time. Cal Lutheran's hybrid format helps me do that. Classes are held once a month on campus. With 60% of instruction in the classroom and 40% online, this Ed.D. program allows me to maintain my workload."

Cedric Hackett
Academic Advisor
California State University, Northridge

"Along with training in critical thinking, Cal Lutheran teaches a process of reflection. It has been ingrained in how I work, and I try to demonstrate it to my staff. Through using my training in critical thinking and the reflective process, I make improvements in my workplace and problem solve with more depth. At Cal Lutheran, they push students to think and ask questions."

Michele Dean
M.A., Educational Administration
Ed.D., Educational Leadership
Principal, Montalvo Elementary School
Ventura Unified School District

"The course work in the program was extremely practical. The program also has a really strong connection with the community."

Kelly Grady Nixon
M.S. In Counseling and Guidance

"I can't say enough about the instructors in the Graduate School of Education. They are current teachers, they're out there getting it done in the real world, and they bring that expertise to you."

Natalie Roberts
Master of Education in Teaching

"I was going to wait to pursue my doctorate because I could not find a program that accommodated my already hectic schedule. As a full-time student affairs professional and mother of two, weeknight commutes would not work for me. Cal Lutheran's program gives me the flexibility to balance my personal, professional, and academic life. The infusion of dissertation seminars into the curriculum has also made research a more rewarding experience because I receive consistent support from the faculty and my colleagues who are enrolled in the same courses."

Joy Hoffman
Director of the Cultural Center
Whittier College

"The biggest strength of the Cal Lutheran experience is personalization. I was able to move through my program in a manner that worked for me. I was fortunate enough to have professors that assigned projects that were directly related to the work I was doing in my classroom and within my school system. I could immediately utilize quite a lot of the current concepts, research, and information that was being shared throughout my Cal Lutheran course work."

Kristen Marsilio
M.S. in Special Education
Resource Specialist and
Dean of Attendance
Agoura High School

"I didn't understand obstacles in education until I went out in the field and faced them. Cal Lutheran helped me to develop my leadership skills, which in turn has helped me overcome the obstacles I've had to face as a leader of a school. Through my training at Cal Lutheran, I am able to respond to the needs of all learners. As an administrator observing teachers in the classroom, I can identify strong teaching strategies that address all needs."

Anna Merriman
Credential in Educational Administration
Assistant Superintendent, Moorpark Unified School District

"I really appreciate the education I have received as a student enrolled in the program for Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Cal Lutheran. The classes not only provided me with current and applicable information, but were also offered at convenient times. This allowed me to both work as an Intern for William S. Hart School District and attend classes. Because of the quality of the classes I have taken, I am excited about attaining a Master's Degree in Deaf Education."

Jennifer McCann, Student
DHH-Itinerant Teacher
William S. Hart Union High School District