Professor of Educational Leadership · Delaware State University
I am a Professor of Educational Leadership at Delaware State University, where I study the politics and policy of equity-oriented leadership in P-12 systems — how superintendents, principals, and districts advance, or are prevented from advancing, racial and educational justice amid political contestation over race, curriculum, and equity. Drawing on critical theory and mixed-method inquiry, my recent work examines how school-system leaders interpret and navigate contested policy terrain, including a study of superintendents' awareness of critical race theory published in Educational Administration Quarterly. I am co-editor of the Bloomsbury volumes Educational Leadership and Critical Theory (2023) and Educational Leadership and Political Literacy (forthcoming), and my scholarship spans high-need urban and rural districts in the United States and internationally, including Nepal. A former school principal and teacher, I approach research as a scholar-practitioner committed to leadership that is just, democratic, and responsive to the communities schools serve. At Delaware State, a historically Black university, I teach research methods and educational leadership at the doctoral level and have mentored more than twenty doctoral scholars from proposal through defense.
About
I am a Professor in the Department of Education at Delaware State University, where I teach and advise doctoral students in Educational Research, Educational Leadership, and related fields at the Ed.D. and M.Ed. levels.
My scholarly work centers on leaders/educators' professional practice. I draw on identity theories, critical and transformative frameworks, narrative and discursive perspectives, and cultural-historical approaches to examine these processes.
I am also deeply invested in educational leadership, equity, and critical theory — questions of who gets to lead, how institutions shape leadership identity, and what transformative scholarship looks like in practice.
Get in touch →Research & Publications
Development across career stages, professional practice, critical incidents, and resilience
Principal preparation, superintendent leadership, critical theory, and crisis management
Abolitionist leadership, anti-racist practice, political literacy, and civic professionalism
principal leadership, high need schools, educational equity
Gautam, C. N. (2025). Critical race theory and superintendent leadership: Navigating equity in practice. Educational Administration Quarterly.
Gautam, C. N. (2025). Transnational higher education and identity. In Education in Nepal and the Global South. Edward Elgar.
Gautam, C. N. (2024). School principals' roles and leadership practices during COVID-19: A mixed method study. International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation.
Gautam, C. N. (2024). Political literacy and educational leadership. International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation.
Gautam, C. N. (Ed.). (2023). Educational leadership and critical theory. Bloomsbury.
Gautam, C. N. (2023). Chapter contribution. In [Volume Title]. Routledge.
Gautam, C. N. (2023). Opioids and community impact. Journal of Rural Issues.
Gautam, C. N. (2021). Chapter contribution. In [Volume Title]. IAP.
Gautam, C. N. (2020). Token economy and student engagement. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
* Titles marked with [brackets] require your input — please update with the actual chapter/volume title before publishing.
Teaching
I teach at the doctoral level, emphasizing equity, critical inquiry, and methodological rigor. My courses blend theory with practice, preparing educational leaders and researchers for meaningful impact.
Foundational survey of educational research paradigms, designs, and methods. Students develop research literacy and begin framing their own scholarly inquiries.
Examination of classical and contemporary leadership theories and their application to educational settings. Emphasis on adaptive, transformational, and equity-centered leadership frameworks.
Ontology, epistemology, axiology, and paradigm selection for doctoral scholars. Research design from concept to proposal.
Mixed methods emphasis with SPSS, NVivo, and ATLAS.ti. Survey design, thematic coding, and integration strategies.
Capstone methods sequence. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches for dissertation-level inquiry, with integration of research technologies and digital tools.
I have advised over 20 Ed.D. dissertations, mentoring candidates from proposal through defense. My advising philosophy centers on developing scholar-practitioners who pursue equity-driven, rigorous, and contextually grounded research.
I specialize in supporting candidates working with mixed methods, action research, and educational leadership topics. I am currently accepting advisees in areas aligned with my research interests.
Inquire about advising →Curriculum Vitae
My CV documents publications, grants, presentations, editorial service, and academic appointments spanning more than two decades of work in educational research and leadership.
* Replace cv.pdf in the folder with your actual CV file.
Department of Education, Delaware State University
Department of Education, Delaware State University
Co-founder, Research, Advocacy, and Initiatives for Student Equity (RAISE)
U-RESEARCH Lab — Urban/rural equity and global policy analysis, operating under RAISE
Peer reviewer and editorial board member, multiple journals including IJELP
Co-editor, Journal of Transformative Education Research, Initiatives, and Practices (JTERIP)
Blog & Writing
Here I share shorter reflections — on teaching, research, leadership, and the intersections of scholarship and the world. Updated periodically.
A personal reflection on identity, place, and the winding path that shaped my work as an educational leader and researcher.
Read more → November 12, 2020 · Global Ed LeadershipA brief case for convergent parallel designs in social justice scholarship.
Read more → Coming soonCivic professionalism, policy awareness, and what schools need from their leaders.
Read more → Coming soon* Replace placeholder titles and links with your actual posts as you publish them.
Media
April 7–12, 2026 · Los Angelas, CA. Presenting peer-reviewed research across education and identity themes.
Presented on DSU teaching, research, and service practices. Explored joint grant collaborations with KUSOED and U.S. partners.
APA 7th edition, Chapter IV structure, mixed methods data analysis, and ontology/epistemology/axiology workshops for doctoral candidates.
Add links to recorded talks, podcast appearances, news features, or keynote presentations here.
Contact
I welcome inquiries about research collaboration, doctoral advising, speaking invitations, editorial partnerships, and general correspondence.