Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Darley, who has earned yet another academic degree! Dr. Darley, who serves as the Assistant Dean for Professional Education at the College of Pharmacy, crossed the stage and crossed over his tassel at UGA’s Graduate Commencement Ceremony on December 12th at Stegeman Coliseum. He adds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education to his growing collection of sheepskins.
In an in-depth interview, Dr. Darley reflected on his academic journey, his philosophy on education, and his role at the CoP.
What degree did you recently earn? What was the title of your dissertation? Who was your major professor?
I earned my Doctor of Education, or EdD, in Higher Education from the UGA McBee Institute of Higher Education (McBee IHE). My dissertation was titled “Administrative perspectives on leading curricular change in pharmacy education,” and my major professor was Dr. Libby Morris, the Zell Miller Distinguished Professor of Higher Education.
Why did you choose to pursue this degree? How will it help you in your current role at the College of Pharmacy?
A commitment to lifelong learning is a responsibility all pharmacists have. As my career as a pharmacist and faculty member has evolved, I realized that educational leadership was an area of interest for me, and it became an area of focus for my professional development that I have explored through graduate education. The EdD offered by the McBee IHE was a great fit, since its executive format is designed for working professionals. The cohort-based model allowed me to learn from my classmates and deepen my understanding of higher education from multiple unique perspectives. The program is led by truly exceptional and highly respected academic administrators, and the faculty have been amazing.
The McBee IHE describes the EdD program as having “…a prescribed set of advanced graduate courses, international and domestic field study, and embedded leadership seminars—all crafted to connect the professional experiences of students with cutting-edge research, theoretical perspectives, and innovative practices.” Throughout my EdD coursework and dissertation, one of my priorities was to apply research and theory to my work as a pharmacy education administrator. My goal in doing this has been identifying and implementing best practices that elevate our PharmD program.
You have quite a few post-secondary degrees! What are they and from what institutions are they from?
- AA, East Georgia College
- PharmD, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy
- MEd in Higher Education Administration, Georgia Southern University
- EdD in Higher Education, University of Georgia McBee Institute of Higher Education
In addition, I was proud to be a member of Cohort 19 of the Academic Leadership Fellows Program through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Evidently, advanced education is very important to you. Why? Do you have plans for any more degrees? What advice would you give to someone interested in traveling a similar path?
Higher education has definitely been important to me. Higher education has several benefits. There are direct benefits to those pursuing higher education, and there are broader benefits that impact society as a whole. Higher education is associated with better earnings, better health and well-being, and stronger and more productive communities. I also have valued the structured approach graduate education provides that has facilitated my professional development. The opportunity to learn from experts while building my own knowledge and skills has been incredible.
Never say never, but I don’t have any plans for more degrees. As far as advice, I always tell students that there isn’t one path for success. For some, a successful career begins right after graduation with direct entry into practice. For others, postgraduate residency or fellowship training is an excellent path. For me, my residency at Memorial Health in Savannah was a critical component of my professional development, allowing me to sharpen my clinical expertise and to discover my interest in precepting. This led me to joining the experiential education faculty at UGA, which led to my interest in higher education leadership and subsequent completion of my MEd and EdD to formally develop my knowledge and skills in this area. These degrees deepened my understanding of higher education at a broader level, covering complex topics like governance, academic and student affairs, learning and development theories, and administrative management.
For others interested in educational leadership, graduate education in the field of higher education can be very beneficial. I believe the work I completed through these programs has given me a valuable set of tools to apply to our work at the College of Pharmacy. A final piece of advice for those interested in traveling a similar path is to be intentional; the path doesn’t necessarily have to be graduate degrees, but it could also be other informal and formal professional development that builds leadership competencies.
Was there any person (or persons) who served as a mentor during this educational journey?
I have worked with so many incredible people throughout this process, including EdD program faculty, administration, staff, and my classmates. It was a privilege to have Dr. Libby Morris as my mentor and major professor for my dissertation. Dr. Morris is the executive director of the EdD program. She previously held numerous leadership positions at UGA, including director of the McBee IHE, vice provost for academic affairs, and two terms as interim provost. Dr. Morris is a true role model for those working in higher education, and her example is one that I will continually strive toward throughout my career. Her high standards, spirit of empathy, pragmatic approach, patience, and constant support were invaluable throughout this program, and I cannot thank her enough.
In a program recognizing Fall 2025 graduates of the EdD program, Dr. Morris shared a few words about me as one of her dissertation students. I was genuinely honored that she concluded her remarks by saying, “I would choose him as my pharmacist, and I would choose him as my administrative leader.” I will always be grateful to have been a part of this program, and I am especially grateful to have had the chance to learn from and work with Dr. Morris.
I also want to thank my friend and colleague Dr. Mike Fulford, who supported my completion of this program from application to graduation. As another “student of higher education” working in pharmacy education, Dr. Fulford understood what I was going through and was always willing to listen and be a resource to me as a peer and mentor. He is the kind of person who will actually drop what he is doing to help someone, and I cannot thank him enough for his guidance and support.
With all these degrees, what is your aspirational career goal? What do you want to be when you grow up?
That’s a great question. In my dissertation, the end of my dedication was “…to our students, who are the true reason for all the work we do.” By completing this program, my personal goal has been to become as effective as possible at supporting students as an academic administrator and faculty member. With my background in pharmacy practice and education, as well as additional degrees in higher education administration, I feel well-equipped to continue to collaborate with our students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders to maintain and strengthen our PharmD curriculum. I also hope to be able to make positive contributions more broadly in higher education. With that said, I am incredibly proud to serve as assistant dean for professional education, and I look forward to continuing to work with the entire CoP community in this role.
