Empowering Youth Beyond the School Bell
EdD alumnus champions out-of-school learning through work at top philanthropic organization
James Doyle (EdD ’20) is dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth across Western Pennsylvania.
For years, he was an administrator of out-of-school time services at Pittsburgh Public Schools, where he shaped enriching after-school programming in art, music, technology, and sports for thousands of young people.
After enrolling in University of Pittsburgh’s Doctor of Education (EdD) program, his career trajectory changed.
Following leadership roles at several educational organizations, he became a program officer at The Grable Foundation in Pittsburgh. The private philanthropic organization awards millions of dollars in grants annually to organizations in the areas of early childhood education, public schools, out-of-school time (OST) learning, families, and communities.
“As a program officer, I work with the many nonprofits aiming to make Pittsburgh one of the best places in the world for young people and families. My role includes everything from reviewing proposals to acting as a thought partner, helping to connect the people, places, and programs that the Grable Foundation is privileged to support,” Doyle said.
Through the Grable Foundation, Doyle has expanded his impact on helping young learners flourish. He now works with a broader network of organizations and keeps them well-connected, mission-aligned, and financially supported.
“Being able to support them is super impactful,” he said. “I am appreciative of that and feel very privileged to sit in the seat to be able to do that.”
Career Development and Personal Development
At Pitt, Doyle completed the EdD major in Out of School Learning (OSL).
The OSL major encompasses the educational experiences that happen outside the regular school day. This can include after-school programs, summer camps, weekend workshops, and mentoring activities.
Doyle says one of the questions he often gets about the EdD program is, “What am I going to do with that?
His response? “People should think at a high level of how this will help you as a person, as opposed to ‘what role I can get with that,” Doyle said.
While the education doctorate did enhance Doyle’s career progression, he also saw great value in his personal development.
“I don’t know that folks always see the broad applicability of being able to be a deep thinker, to be a reflective thinker, of the program teaching you to iterate and experiment,” Doyle said. “These skills are applicable in business, applicable in nonprofits, and are applicable in education.”
The Academic Experience
Doyle says the concepts of OSL and OST, which emphasize creativity and inclusivity, translate well across any educational setting.
In the EdD program, his dissertation in practice examined partnerships between K-12 schools and the individuals working on OSL/OST programs. He identified common themes shared by those working in the various roles, from the staff member up to the executive director.
“I found a lot of stuff to be practical because it helped me in my role,” Doyle said.
Doyle appreciated the Pitt EdD program’s cohort model, which allowed him to form close relationships with classmates that continue to this day.
His favorite instructors were professors Tom Akiva and Kevin Crowley. He said their courses facilitated unstructured thinking and collaboration in ways that pushed students to arrive at the learning goals without ever needing to tell them exactly what to do.
“Their courses never felt like lectures. It was highly experimental and highly active,” Doyle said.
At the Grable Foundation, Doyle can continue his commitment to making life better for children and teenagers in Pittsburgh.
Rather than working at a school or nonprofit, he is on the grantmaking side now—but his purpose is unchanged.
“It’s all with the goal of making sure our youth have what they need for ultimate success in life,” Doyle said.
