The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at CSU Bakersfield is focused on preparing P-12 and higher educational leaders to advance educational opportunities and provide equitable academic achievement for diverse groups of students. It links graduate scholarship with practical problem-solving in education in order to achieve transformations both in future leaders and in the quality of education in the region. Practice-based research addresses significant problems faced by local educational institutions, is designed with and facilitated by P-16 community partners, and is structured to bring about systemic educational reforms. CSU Bakersfield faculty members and local P-12 and higher education administrators are among the primary instructional faculty in the program. It serves students pursuing leadership roles in both P-12 schools and in community colleges.