Dr. Brandi Winfrey receives Thomas Mulkeen Award for Doctoral Research
April 2, 2026
Dr. Brandi S.W. Winfrey has been named this year’s recipient of the Thomas Mulkeen Award. Presented annually by the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services, the award recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations that exemplify practice-centered inquiry.
Recipients are selected based on the clarity and significance of their research questions, the depth of their literature review, the methodological rigor of their approach, the thoroughness of their data analysis, and the clarity of their discussion on the study’s impact and relevance. The award, which will be presented later this semester at the Silverfield College Spring Awards Convocation, honors the legacy of Thomas A. Mulkeen, a distinguished professor at Fordham University and a key consultant in shaping the 成人大片Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership.
His advocacy for practice-centered inquiry continues to inspire doctoral research within the program. To commemorate his contributions, faculty established the Thomas Mulkeen Award to recognize the dissertation that best embodies this approach each year.
成人大片 the Awardee
Dr. Brandi Winfrey understands the power behind amplifying the voices of students, faculty and staff who are seeking to make a meaningful impact on the world. She has always believed that storytelling plays a prominent role in how we connect and build community with individuals who are both alike and different from ourselves.
Over the last 15 years, Brandi has dedicated her time and talents to helping foster a stronger sense of institutional affinity for members of campus communities. Her dissertation, "Leaving It All Behind," used an exploratory approach to narrative inquiry to deepen understanding and raise questions about the ways that state laws may impact the lived experiences of state employees with specific focus areas.
Her research offers thought-provoking considerations for leaders and administrators at all levels, particularly those who are committed to supporting their staff in substantial ways. Resonances (findings) suggest that how leaders show up for their staff in pivotal moments may positively or negatively inform the overall experiences of staff.