Meet Outstanding Doctoral Mentor Dr. Christopher Giroir
Dr. Christopher Giroir is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Foundations & Leadership. He also is the graduate coordinator for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program.
Earlier this year, Giroir was honored as an Outstanding Doctoral Mentor by the Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development for 2020-2021. 
A Supportive Educational Environment
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program at UL Lafayette prepares educational leaders for K-12 school systems as well as state and federal education departments.
The flexible instructional format and emphasis on learning and professional growth supports busy working professionals in meeting their goals.
鈥淢ost of our 亚洲自慰视频s are current practitioners in some field of education (K-12 or higher education) and they bring their work experience, current challenges, and success stories into our classes, which complement the formal instruction,鈥 he says.
Doctoral 亚洲自慰视频s progress through the program in a cohort, providing 鈥渁 built-in network of colleagues to offer support and challenge them when needed along the journey of earning their terminal degree,鈥 he says. Offering an executive model to its 亚洲自慰视频s, the program delivers most content in on-campus classes one weekend each month.
As an seasoned educator whose background in higher education includes positions in 亚洲自慰视频 and academic affairs, Giroir teaches the application of theories and skills based on his experience.
Staying the Course
One of the most rewarding parts of working with graduate 亚洲自慰视频s, he says, is their simultaneous dedication to their studies and their career development.
鈥淭hey come to class prepared and are highly engaged in discussions. They seek feedback and implement suggestions given to them on ways to make their work even stronger. I am honored to work with doctoral 亚洲自慰视频s as I learn from them just as much as they learn from me,鈥 he notes.
As a mentor, Giroir seeks to go beyond discussions of degree requirements to support their overall development as a professional.
鈥淚 believe mentoring doctoral 亚洲自慰视频s is all about developing a working relationship with each 亚洲自慰视频 that is based on open communication and a genuine concern for their overall well-being,鈥 he says.
鈥淏eing available when they need help and oftentimes taking on the role of cheerleader/motivator is what I have found my 亚洲自慰视频s really appreciate.鈥
Over the years, he has found that setting and meeting goals and maintaining good communication are central to graduate 亚洲自慰视频 success. While graduate school may offer challenges, the hard work pays off when 亚洲自慰视频s successfully defend their dissertation.
鈥淚 know how hard each 亚洲自慰视频 works with their research and to see the end product, which is often the result of years of work, all come together at a defense is extremely rewarding to me and to my graduate 亚洲自慰视频s,鈥 Giroir says.
