Heidi Von Dohlen

Heidi Von Dohlen is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the North Carolina School Executive Leadership Program (NCSELP) at Western Carolina University’s College of Education and Allied Professions, Department of Human Services. She oversees the Masters of School Administration (MSA) and Post-Masters Certificate (PMC) programs.

Education:

• EdD in Educational Leadership and Administration, Western Carolina University
• MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, State University of New York (SUNY) Center Stony Brook
• MSED in Educational Leadership, SUNY College at New Paltz
• BA in Spanish, Lenoir-Rhyne University
• BS in Human Services, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Research and Teaching Interests: Heidi’s work focuses on leadership frameworks in education, particularly distributed leadership, teacher leadership, and principal leadership. She emphasizes ethical school leadership, school culture, and the sociopolitical contexts of education, including the history, sociology, and philosophy of education. Her research also explores transformational leadership through international experiences and social justice issues affecting marginalized students and families, aiming to address systemic inequities in educational systems.

Professional Experience and Advocacy: With 28 years of experience as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, and county office administrator across New York, Spain, Virginia, Japan, California, and North Carolina, Heidi advocates for marginalized communities in education. She mentors aspiring school leaders and emphasizes teacher leadership as a core mission, aligning her work with social justice and the acculturation of immigrant families in U.S. schools.