NCCU Joins Elite Education Consortium, Expands Doctoral Impact

North Carolina Central University (NCCU)has been selected as one of just 14 institutions nationwide to join the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), an international consortium of more than 160 universities working to strengthen and reimagine the Doctor of Education degree to better prepare advanced practitioners for real-world challenges.

"Joining CPED affirms our commitment to preparing doctoral-level counselors who apply research to solve complex problems and drive meaningful change," said Jeffrey Warren, Ph.D., professor and associate dean in the NCCU School of Education.

NCCU's membership stems from its new Ed.D. in counseling, counselor education and supervision (CCES), which launched in fall 2025. The 66-credit program is only the fifth of its kind at a historically Black college or university nationwide.

Designed to prepare scholar-practitioners and transformational leaders, the program emphasizes applied learning through internships across professional settings and a three-article dissertation model that builds scholarship while showcasing research skills, versatility and contributions to counseling literature.

"Our membership in CPED reflects a strong alignment between our mission and CPED's vision for the Ed.D. as a doctoral degree that prepares scholarly practitioners," said Kyla Kurian, Ph.D., associate professor and director of doctoral studies in the counseling program in the School of Education. "This membership strengthens our ability to prepare scholar-practitioners who transform mental health systems and advance social justice."