The Department
Who We Are and What We Do
Welcome to the UW–Madison Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA), where our courses and research give students a deep understanding of educational and sports organizations, educational policy, and policy systems. We offer PhD programs which specialize in one of three areas: K-12 leadership, higher education, and educational policy analysis and evaluation. Our Master’s programs offer degrees in K-12 leadership, higher education, educational policy analysis and evaluation, global higher education, and sports leadership.
No matter which unique strand you choose, when you graduate, you will be an effective leader, prepared to pave the way to better education for all students.
Department Chair
Pete Miller
Director of Badger Inquiry on Sport (BIOS)
A Supportive Community
“I was drawn to ELPA because of the quality of the curriculum, the faculty, and the staff. My gratitude toward my ELPA family is immeasurable for making the department feel like home from the first day, and for cultivating and unleashing the Super Genius in me and each and every one of us.” –(Walter Parrish III, PhD Spring 2023)
Dr. Xueli Wang with PhD graduates.
Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB)
The mission of Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) is to design, conduct, and disseminate research that informs policymakers, practitioners, and concerned citizens on how to best promote equitable and inclusive learning and work environments in education in general, and higher education in particular.
Dr. Brian A. Burt, Director
Badger Inquiry on Sport (BIOS)
The Badger Inquiry on Sport (BIOS) initiative harnesses the power of the university, bringing top-level research and athletics together. BIOS bridges the athletic department, campus, Wisconsin, and beyond to “grow the good” of the world in and through sports.
Dr. Peter Miller, Director (center)
Dr. Sara Jimenez Soffa, Director of the Master’s in Sports Leadership Program (right)
Maria Dehnert, Associate Director (left)
Meet Our Alumni
Principal Preparation program fuels Arabel Marcano Colón’s passion for multilingual education
Check out this Q&A with Arabel Marcano Colón, who graduated from the Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation (WIPP) master’s program in 2023. Originally from Puerto Rico, Colón relocated to Wisconsin six years ago and today is an eighth-grade bilingual resource teacher and dual language immersion coordinator in Madison.
Q&A with 2025 spring graduate, Nicole Contreras-García
Dr. Nicole Contreras-García is a May 2025 graduate from our Higher Education PhD program. A first-generation college student and an award-winning scholar, her research advances support for underserved community college student populations. Read more about her research and journey to her PhD in her Q&A with the School of Education.
Principal Preparation program helps Sarah Bosch succeed in director of instruction role
Sarah Bosch is a 2024 graduate of our Wisconsin Idea Principal Preparation (WIPP) program and a director of instruction working in Fort Atkinson, WI. Originally unsure if she wanted to be an education administrator, Bosch ultimately found her way into the field and credits the WIPP program for helping her succeed in her current position.
Department Newsletter
It has been a cold and snowy fall and winter in Madison, but that didn’t stop the ELPA community from keeping busy and shining bright. Check out what we’ve been up to so far this school year in our Winter 2026 newsletter!
Read our Winter 2026 newsletter here.
Find an archive of our previous newsletters here.
ELPA Student Organizations
LEADS
Leadership, Engagement, Advancement, & Development of Students (LEADS) is a student organization devoted to providing opportunities and professional development resources to all graduate students in ELPA. LEADS serves an important and needed function in fostering community and building skills within ELPA. Contact LEADS at leads.elpa@gmail.com.
HESAB
The Higher Education Student Advisory Board (HESAB) provides professional development opportunities and social networking for students in ELPA’s Masters of Higher Education track. This group focuses on providing opportunities for professional growth and connections in higher education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and across other institutions.
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News
Events
August
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August 28
September
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September 15
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September 16