Home to some of the top-ranked education programs in the nation
#1 School of Education in the United States
#2 Online Master’s Program in Educational Administration and Supervision
#4 Educational Administration and Supervision Program
#11 Higher Education Administration Program
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 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
Anjalé (AJ) Welton
Rupple-Bascom Professor of Education
Top-Ranked Programs
UW–Madison’s School of Education and several of its programs are ranked among the very best in the nation. Its Educational Administration program is ranked No. 4 and the Higher Education Administration program is rated No. 11 by U.S. News & World Reports 2025. ELPA contributes to the high rating through world-renowned faculty and research.
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
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)
Professor Xueli Wang with PhD graduates.
Alumni Features
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 2024 winter graduate, Mallory Umar
Mallory Umar was recently recognized as one of UW–Madison’s winter 2024 “Notable grads.” Graduating with a PhD from our K-12 Leadership program, Umar's dissertation looked at career pathways, supportive factors, and barriers experienced by Latina superintendents in the Midwest. 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.
Fall 2024 Newsletter
We’ve had a busy start to the 2024-25 school year. Check out some of our fall highlights!
Read the newsletter 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.
Events
- May
- May 22August Art Collective :: 020 | 021 by Mickie Cope & Danielle SeitzMay 1 – 31All day, August Art Collective, 414 State St
- May 23August Art Collective :: 020 | 021 by Mickie Cope & Danielle SeitzMay 1 – 31All day, August Art Collective, 414 State St
- May 23August Art Collective :: 020 | 021 by Mickie Cope & Danielle Seitz Closing ReceptionMay 1 – 316:00 PM, August Art Collective, 414 State St