Milwaukee, Wisconsin Campus
12000 West Park Place Suite 100
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224
414-577-2658 Extension 6203
FAX 414-227-1377

Beloit, Wisconsin Campus
501 Prospect Street
Beloit, Wisconsin  53511
608-364-3999 Extension 6804
FAX 608-364-3988
Email: Mary.Kahl@nl.edu

Professional Statement  
It is my professional intent to provide unique deep-learning opportunities for aspiring educational leaders through the use of a “Knowing, Doing And Being”  leadership framework (Pelicer) so that they may direct progressive, value-added change in curriculum, instruction, professional staff development, policy development, school district culture and school-community relationships in private and public K-16 settings.”

My current position at National-Louis University is Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership.  2008 marks the beginning of my fourth year as a full-time faculty member with NLU.  Prior to this career move, I served k-12 public education from September 1978 through September 2005 in a variety of roles.  I began my career as a primary teacher.  After receiving my MEd from National-Louis University I became an assistant principal, principal, and pupil service director.  I also went on to complete my EdD with National-Louis and served four years as  Superintendent of Alden-Hebron District 19 in Illinois.  

Education

• Ed.D., Educational Leadership, National-Louis University, Chicago, Illinois Dissertation Title: How Public School Superintendents Manifest Love in the Work That They Do. Degree Awarded June, 2004
• M.Ed., Educational Administration and Supervision, National-Louis University, Chicago, Illinois. Degree Awarded June, 1996
• B.S., Elementary Education, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. Degree Awarded May, 1976

Areas of Expertise
I tend to shy away from words such as "expert" for I am always learning and knowledge is always expanding.  However, I have spent considerable time and energy advancing my knowledge in key areas.  In no particular order, these areas include:
K-12 Organizational Change Processes and Capacity Building

• Leadership Theory including:
• • Invitational Leadership
  • Transformational Leadership
  • Sustainable Leadership
  • Leadership/Followship Relations
  • Servant Leadership
  • Spiritual Leadership
• Pedagogies including
• • Contemplative and Wholistic Pedagogy
  • Pedagogy of Love and Hope
  • Indigenous Wisdom as Pedagogy
• Research Methodology to include:
• • Organic Inquiry
  • Appreciative Inquiry
• Emancipatory Narrative

COURSES TAUGHT
I  teach all courses at the MEd level (Masters in Administration and Supervision).  These courses include

• EDL 510 Leadership and Organizational Development of Schools
• EDL 512 Communication and Technological Skills for School Leaders
• EDL 546 Perspectives and Administration of Educational Policy
• EDL 551 Professional Staff Development
• EDL 554 Academic System Improvement
• ESR 508 Research for School Leaders
• EDL 552 Administration of Curriculum
• EDL 553 Supervision of Instruction
• EDL 502 Educational Law and Governance
• EDL 504 School and Community Relations
• EDL 506 Negotiations and Personnel

I have also taught courses in our EdD program.  These include

• EDL 602 Leadership and Management Strategies
• EDL 622 Curriculum Planning, Organization, and Evaluation
• EDL 610 A & B Doctoral Core Seminar
• ESR 604 Dissertation Proposal Seminar

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Dr. Kahl’s research has focused on love as a legitimate unit of analysis and framework for which one guides and informs their work as educational leaders.  This theme also encompasses research on peace and spirituality as essential elements of leading wholistic, sustainable living systems.  She has given close attention to those processes and tools that leaders use in order to do the work of transforming organizations, institutions, and communities into wholistic, sustainable, and value added contributors to humankind. 

PRESENTATION

• Dialogues of Peace Retreat: A three day workshop/retreat focusing on peace education through conversation and discussion of pedagogy, theories of education, and international initiatives for the advancement of global citizenship. Williams Bay, Wisconsin September 19, 20, 21st 2008
• Extending the Debate on the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership: Transmission vs. Transformation. Interactive Symposium. AERA Conference (American Educational Research Association). New York, New York, March 2008: This presentation focused on the success of the Ed.D. program at National-Louis University in not only preparing candidates to assume the role and responsibilities of building level and district level administration but the power of the  signature pedagogy of the program which intentionally emphasizes transformational learning as evidenced by the content of the dissertations that were completed in recent years by candidates. Several recent graduates of the program along with faculty of National-Louis University presented at this symposium.  
• Technology Based Collaboration Tools to Enhance Peace Education Initiatives. Poster Presentation. INTED Conference (International Association of Technology, Education, and Development), Valencia, Spain, March 2008. This poster presentation highlighted the collaborative work of teachers and students to enhance a culture of peace on an international level using social networking tools.  This research was a result of a class requirement for ESR 508 a required course for completion of the M.Ed. Program at National-Louis University taught by Dr. Mary Ann Kahl.  Dr. Kahl accompanied her students at this conference.
• Alignment of Mission, Values, and Beliefs in the Accreditation Process. 1st Annual Muslim Educational Conference. National-Louis University, Lisle, Illinois, February, 2007. This presentation provided participants, all working in private school settings, with an overview of how alignment of the elements of a school system with the school’s statements of mission, values and beliefs are critical to successful completion of accreditation processes.  
• Futuring Schools. Midwest Principals’ Center. Summer Retreat, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, June 2006. This two day summer retreat for school leaders provided participant’s with a critical and appreciative look at political, cultural, environmental, technological, religious, and economic trends and engaging them in deep wisdom exploration as to how those trends will inform and impact education.
• Creating Peace Filled Schools. Midwest Principals’ Center. Workshop. Wheeling, Illinois, February 2005. This workshop introduced participant’s to a unique way to frame their school improvement process using wholistic alignment resulting in deep systemic improvement as well as contributing to a sustainable culture of peace.  

PUBLICATIONS
Kahl, Mary Ann. (2008). Sustaining hope through renewed compassion. Shambhala Fieldnotes On-Line Journal, Issue 14.
“Connecting people to their compassion, helping them to bridge their compassion with hope, and then acting on that hope through lived experiences and commitment will help to provide the generative culture that we so desperately need in our organizations today.”

PERSONAL INTERESTS
I tend to have a lot of interests and  in many areas.  I love to sit with a brush, black paint,calming music and practice contemplative brush stroke. It is a form of meditation and art.  I also love to swim and experience the renewing powers of water while engaging in physical exercise. I love observing the world and all of its inhabitants.  I can spend hours daydreaming and conjuring up ideas.  I love to read. Then there is my faithful dog, Clara, who is my constant companion.   But most of all I love to hold and hug children, read to them, laugh with them and enjoy their world of imagination.  I am especially fond on holding and hugging my three grandchildren.  When I am not doing these activities I find myself advocating for peace and global citizenship.

Last modified:
October 2008