Dr. Robert H. Voelkel, Jr. earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Education and a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from San Diego State University. He received his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a focus in social justice from the University of California, San Diego and California State University, San Marcos. He is National Board Certified in English Language Arts (6th-10th grades). He was a practitioner for over 20 years, serving as an elementary and middle school teacher, middle school assistant principal, and middle school principal. Dr. Voelkel’s research interests include school reform, professional learning communities and collective efficacy, transformational leadership, and social justice. His most recent research explores the relationship between professional learning communities and collective efficacy. He also continues to examine high functioning and less well functioning within school teams. Prior to his appointment at UNT, he was an assistant professor in northern Georgia. He also served in the United State Marine Corps for eight years. In addition to supporting leaders, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Kimberly, and their six children (Lauren, Sara Jo, Natalie, Leah, Joshua, and Matthew), reading and exercising.