Dr. Erika Gustafson-Dietz Successfully Defends Dissertation

Please join the doctoral program and committee Chair Linda Gilkerson, PhD in congratulating Erika Gustafson-Dietz on completion of Erikson’s doctoral program. On April 7, Erika successfully defended her dissertation entitled, “Competency-Based Alignment and Competency-Based Education in Higher Education: Institutional Perspectives from Illinois’ Early Childhood Workforce Initiative. “

Dr. Erika Gustafson-Dietz examined the impact of state policy supporting competency-based education on the implementation of competency-based education in two-year and four-year colleges in Illinois. Using institutional theory as her guide, she found that formal mandates through state policy are only one influence on implementation: that impact of professional norms—what direction the field is heading and peer influences—what your fellow institutions are doing also have an impact.

This study reflects Erika’s long-term interests in the impact of policy on early childhood—a focus of her master’s program at the University of Utah and her passion for competency-based education. Erika worked closely with Jenny Kemp Berchtold, Director of Erikson’s Child Development program, to implement a competency-based infant certificate program at Erikson.

She is an Assistant Professor in a competency-based program at National Louis University and will be part of the research team evaluating the impact of the program.

In addition to her scholarship and professorship, she is a mother to her beautiful, 4-month-old son, Bowen Garrett.

Congratulations, Dr. Gustafson-Dietz–You did splendidly in all aspects of your Erikson program and are well on your way to an impactful career in early childhood!