From First Cohort to Lasting Impact

Dr. Andrea Cain Lawson and Dr. Roderick L. Jones Reflect on the DEXL Journey

As the Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership program at St. John Fisher University celebrates its 20th cohort at the Rochester site, two distinguished alumni from the very first cohort—Dr. Andrea Cain Lawson and Dr. Roderick L. Jones—have continued leadership journeys that have shaped communities and inspired future cohorts.

Both leaders entered the program already holding significant executive roles—and both began their doctoral studies elsewhere before realizing they needed a program that truly aligned with their professional goals and leadership identities.

During her first months in the program, Cain Lawson stepped into the role of interim CEO at the Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester, Syracuse, and Binghamton, later becoming COO.

“I had already expressed what I wanted my career goals to be,” she said. “My CEO had started prepping me … she was still coaching and encouraging me, even while facing her own health challenges.”

That mentorship, paired with the program’s leadership focus, helped her navigate the transition into executive leadership with clarity and resilience.

Jones was deeply engaged in youth development work and sought a doctoral program that aligned with his identity as an adjacent practitioner. “At orientation, I had deep respect for the practitioners. There were people from various helping professions I didn’t know. It was a perfect fit for me,” he said.

Both leaders said that the curriculum’s emphasis on leadership, governance, and public policy resonated with them, offering tools they could immediately apply in their organizations.

“I’ve used every bit of my education,” said Cain Lawson. “From leadership development to public policy and governance, the program aligned with everything I set out to do, personally and professionally.” She emphasized that the degree was not just a credential, but a foundation for meaningful work. “Wherever you're headed, you have to take what you've learned and build it into your goals.”

Jones echoed the sentiment, adding, “I learned a whole new level of discipline. There were tough days—work, family obligations, deadlines—but you learn what it takes to keep showing up.” He recalled moments of exhaustion and doubt, but also the unwavering support of his cohort: “I remember saying, ‘I’m done,’ and my classmates said, ‘Nope, you’re coming back to class.’”

Guest speakers played a pivotal role in shaping their leadership philosophies. Jones cited Al Simone’s lessons on crisis management: “Leaders often fail because it takes them too long to realize there’s a crisis.”

They also remembered Peter Carpino of United Way, whose response to feedback about representation in leadership imagery led to visible changes in the organization’s meeting spaces.

For both, the cohort experience itself was transformative.

“We developed lifelong relationships,” said Lawson. “We supported each other personally and professionally—reading each other’s work, swapping papers, helping across disciplines.”

Jones added that they learned early on in the program to play to their strengths, and to do that as a cohort as well.

Though they were on different teams—Cain Lawson with the Iconoclasts and Jones with another group—their shared experience in the program laid the groundwork for future collaboration.

“Out of this program, we developed lifelong partnerships. Not just with Rod, but with several colleagues. I’ve presented with them, trained with them, and brought them into the workplace,” said Cain Lawson.

Today, both serve in executive roles at Goddard Riverside, a leading human services organization in New York City. Their work reflects the values instilled by the program: equity, innovation, and community impact. “This year we’re spending about $400,000 in professional development,” said Jones. “We’re taking staff to Europe to reconnect with the roots of settlement work. It’s not just service delivery—it’s about identity and impact.”

Cain Lawson and Jones remind us that leadership is not just about titles—it’s about transformation, connection, and the courage to keep showing up. Their journeys reflect the heart of the program: cultivating leaders who rise, and lift others with them.