Jesse Wood

Biography

Dr. Jesse Wood, Assistant Professor of Education and Coordinator of the Ph.D. program in Strategic Leadership in Education, joined the faculty at Belmont University in Fall 2023. Wood teaches courses at the doctoral level in quantitative research methods, transformative education, and applied research in education. Prior to accepting a position at Belmont University, Wood taught various courses in research design, assessment, and action research at Lee University in the Educational Doctorate in Professional Practice program. Prior to transitioning to Lee University, Wood served as a local educator in Bradley County and Cleveland City Schools and served on various grants targeted at increasing access to STEM.

Dr. Wood completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2019. While a doctoral student, Wood was nominated by his department as a Jackson Scholar, Clark Scholar, and was awarded the Excellence in Research Award from the Graduate Student Senate. Dr. Wood’s research expertise includes the practice of organizational mindfulness, rural education, and dissertations in improvement science.

Wood’s dissertation work expanded the theoretical construct of school mindfulness in rural secondary schools in Tennessee and he is currently exploring the leadership styles of principals and school mindfulness across contexts. Additionally, Wood is currently conducting research on student-faculty mentoring relationships and designing effective instructional practices in research methods courses to meet the needs of scholar-practitioners. His research has been presented at national and international research conferences in educational leadership.