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Research + Innovation

Closing in on a Doctorate

AJ Polanco DDes student

AJ Polanco is the first person in his cohort to successfully complete the academic requirements of his doctorate.

Republished from Educational Testing Services (ETS):

He was already a pioneer when he chose to join the first cohort to pursue doctorates in North Carolina State University’s Doctor of Design program. Now AJ Polanco, acting associate program director for the National Assessment of Educational Programs (NAEP), is one step closer to earning that prestigious degree.

AJ recently became the first person in his cohort to reach ABD (All but Dissertation) status, a designation given to doctoral candidates who complete the program’s academic requirements.

AJ will now continue to work on his dissertation: “Developing Best Practices for Designing Digital Assessments for Middle-School Aged Deaf or Hard of Hearing Students in the United States.”