Education
- Ed.D. 2019 – Appalachian State University, Educational Leadership – Higher Education
- M.Ed. 2011 – University of Vermont, Higher Education and Student Affairs
- B.S. 2009 – Winthrop University, Integrated Marketing Communication
IDEO U, AI x Design Thinking Certificate (2026); Gallup CliftonStrengths Certified Coach (2025)
Areas of Expertise
- Critical Perspectives of Leadership
- Higher Education Administration
- Leading Organizational Change
- Adult and College Student Development Theory
Background
Dr. Dustin Evatt serves as Program Director and Clinical Assistant Professor in the UNC School of Education’s online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership (OLL) program. A scholar-practitioner, he bridges academic teaching, program administration, applied research, and leadership practice to support students in connecting theory to practice and leading human-centered improvement within complex educational and organizational contexts.
Dr. Evatt has worked in higher education since 2011 across various institutional types and functional units, including academic affairs, student affairs, and institutional advancement. He takes a relational, values-based approach to teaching, mentoring, and leading teams. His teaching spans undergraduate through doctoral education, and he enjoys facilitating professional learning for leaders and professionals across industries and disciplines.
A first-generation college graduate from South Carolina, Dr. Evatt earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Appalachian State University, an M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Vermont, and a B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communication from Winthrop University.
Research
Dr. Evatt’s research explores critical perspectives of leadership, with particular attention to the intersections of identity, power, and institutional change. Using qualitative methodologies, his scholarship centers lived experience and examines organizational norms and structures for understanding leadership practice and equity-driven change. He has presented over 40 sessions at national and international conferences and received honors, including the 2023 Faculty Service Award from Western Carolina University’s College of Education and Allied Professions, selection to the 2022-2023 NASPA Emerging Faculty Leader Academy, and the 2020 Dissertation of the Year Award from the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA).