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Dr. Betty J. Alford, Ph.D.
Betty J. Alford, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership, received her doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Her areas of specialization include secondary school students’ course-taking patterns for success in postsecondary education, leadership preparation, and organizational change. Her research agenda has centered on the identification of practices and processes in school leadership that impact the success of increased numbers of secondary students in advanced-level classes. Primarily a qualitative researcher, her other areas of interest include organizational culture, professional development, and the study of leadership preparation within the context of a principal preparation or doctoral program. Alford also served as director of the East Texas GEAR UP project for five years. This project received $3.3 million from 1999 to 2005 in cooperation with six partner school districts and Angelina College to increase the number of students successfully prepared for postsecondary education and was funded for six additional years for $6.1 million. In addition, Alford serves as project director for Project DEVELOP, a $722,016 three-year grant for the improvement of principal preparation and Project ENLACE, a five year grant for meeting the academic needs of English Language Learners. Dr. Alford has authored many journal articles and book chapters. She may be contacted at (936) 468-2908 or balford@sfasu.edu