Prakash Mansinghani
I began my academic journey on a nontraditional path, earning a GED instead of a high school diploma. That experience taught me perseverance, humility, and the transformative power of education. From there, I became a first-generation college student, earning degrees in Political Science from Texas A&M International University. Now, as I pursue a doctoral degree, I reflect on how that journey from GED to doctoral studies shaped both my identity as a scholar and my calling as an educator and leader.
My professional career has been rooted in higher education, where I currently serve as a Professor of Government, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, and a Lead Faculty member for the Center of Teaching Excellence & Learning at Laredo College. In these roles, I have focused on pedagogical innovation, faculty development, and curriculum reform, always guided by the belief that education should help students transform their passions into vocations that enrich their lives and communities.
This commitment to equity and leadership has drawn me to the Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin. The program’s practitioner-based model, in-person instruction, emphasis on social justice, and progressive curriculum reflect my values and goals. UT Austin’s world-class faculty and focus on innovation will allow me to deepen my ability to address systemic challenges and lead institutional change in ways that prioritize access and student success.
My research centers on Open Educational Resources (OER) and “curriculum infusion”—integrating OER into academic programs to lower costs, improve pedagogy, and build sustainable models of equity-driven innovation. By advancing this work, I aspire to serve as an agent of change in higher education leadership, ensuring that future generations of students not only pursue their passions but also find meaningful vocations that transform their lives and communities.
