Winter Commencement 2022: Educator takes place among pioneering Ed.D graduates

Brian Kitts is a lifelong believer in public education.

For more than 20 years, he was a teacher and served as a principal at elementary and secondary public schools in Montgomery County. Now, Kitts teaches master’s-level courses in educational leadership at Radford University and supervises field experiences for aspiring school administrators.

“I’ve devoted much of my life to education,” Kitts proudly noted. “I believe in the structure and systems we put in place to help young people to grow up and do whatever they want to do to be successful in life.”

Three years ago, Kitts took another step in his journey to “do more,” he said, “for the young people in the next generation.” He enrolled in Radford University’s then-new Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree program, which is designed to prepare practicing professional educators, like Kitts to fill positions as educational leaders at the district level in Virginia.

Administered by the College of Education and Human Development, the 63-credit hour program includes courses in educational foundations, educational leadership, applied research, field experiences and elective choices. The fully online program is designed to be completed in three years part-time, and it qualifies individuals for licensure as a superintendent.

Now, on Dec. 9, 2022, Kitts will be among the first cohort of 20 students to graduate from Radford with a doctorate of education degree.

“It’s great to be part of history,” Kitts said.

Plus, “I love this place, this university, the professors, this community. I grew up here,” he said. “It’s just always been a special place.”

He’s excited, too, he said, for those Ed.D. program cohorts that will follow and the “excitement and energy that’s growing in the program, and what it will do for public schools, not only in this region but all around the state of Virginia.”