About
Dr. Kelly Iwanaga Becker serves as an Adjunct Instructor for the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) program at Ferris State University while holding the administrative position of Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness & Strategic Planning at Oakton Community College (IL). Her dual expertise bridges academic research and practical leadership in higher education.
Dr. Becker earned her PhD and MA in Sociology along with an MS in Education from Northwestern University, complemented by a BA in Sociology and History from Boston College. Her educational background provides strong theoretical foundations for her work in educational sociology.
Her research critically examines community college leadership through lenses of social inequality, student transitions, and institutional effectiveness. She investigates structural barriers facing disadvantaged students while developing evidence-based strategies to improve college completion rates and reduce reproduction of social hierarchies. Her work consistently connects theoretical frameworks with actionable administrative practices.
Dr. Becker's publication record since 2011 demonstrates evolving focus from student transition challenges (2011) to systemic inequality analysis (2015-2016). Her scholarship spans academic journals, policy reports, and book chapters, with recent work emphasizing institutional redesign and data-driven interventions. The consistent thread across her publications is improving outcomes for underrepresented student populations.
While specific awards aren't documented in available materials, her research has secured foundation support including the William T. Grant Foundation (2015), indicating recognition of her work's policy relevance. Her presentations at national conferences like NASPA and leadership institutes demonstrate active scholarly engagement.
As an Adjunct Instructor, Dr. Becker advises doctoral candidates in community college leadership while leveraging her administrative role to provide real-world context. Her dual position creates unique opportunities for students to connect theoretical leadership models with practical institutional effectiveness frameworks. Current grant activity isn't specified, but her foundation-supported past work suggests experience with external funding.
Dr. Becker operates at the intersection of academic research and community college administration, with no dedicated laboratory but strong connections to institutional effectiveness units and leadership development programs. Her work directly impacts how community colleges address equity gaps and improve student success metrics through data-informed strategies.
