Our Faculty and Staff
Education Leadership Doctoral Program Faculty & Staff
Dr. Nicholas Brake
- Assistant Professor, Educational Administration
- Assistant Professor, Educational Administration
- nicholas.brake@wku.edu
- Gary A. Ransdell Hall #3088
- (270) 745-3062
- Curriculum Vitae
Education:
- B.A. in History from Northern Kentucky University
- M.A. in History from Western Kentucky University
- Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy, University of Louisville
- Post-Doctoral Study – Educational Policy at Johns Hopkins University, Community Planning and Development at Rutgers University, and Superintendent Leadership Institute at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Teaching:
- EDAD 707- Education Politics and Policy
- EDAD 649- School District Administration
- EDAD 639- Superintendency
- EDAD 603- School Law and Policy
- EDAD 605- Building a Community of Learners
- EDAD 608- School Resource Management
- EDFN 726- Change Leadership
- EDLD 710- Leadership and Ethics
- EDFN 675- Higher Education in America
- EDLD 794- Educational Leadership Seminar in Community Leadership
- EDAD 597- Problems in Education Administration
- PS 549- Problems in Public Administration
Research Agenda:
- School district governance and policy
- History of American education
- American high school and postsecondary transitions
- Community leadership, civic engagement, and educational institutions
Professional Background: Prior to joining the faculty at WKU, Dr. Brake served as the superintendent of the Owensboro Independent School District for the past six years. Under his leadership, the district was recognized as one of the 25 most innovative districts in the US by the American Association of School Administrators. Dr. Brake has held administrative leadership positions at the high school, community college, and school district levels. He spent seven years in the public administrative sector as President and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.
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