Sandra L. Dika The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Sandra L. Dika is a professor of educational research at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she has taught graduate-level research methods courses since 2010 and served as Ph.D. program director from 2018 to 2025. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her B.Ed. and M.Sc. from the University of Alberta and her Ph.D. in educational research and evaluation from Virginia Tech. Prior to UNC Charlotte, she held positions at the University of Puerto Rico–Mayagüez, Virginia Tech, and Brown University.

Dr. Dika’s research focuses on college access, student success, and equity for historically underserved and minoritized populations. She has published more than 75 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and proceedings papers, and has led research funded by the Spencer Foundation, National Science Foundation, and the John M. Belk Endowment. She also serves as an external evaluator for STEM education initiatives.

Her teaching and mentorship have earned her the UNC Charlotte College of Education’s Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Research Awards, and she was named a Catalyst Research Fellow in 2018. She has chaired or served on over 40 dissertation committees and has mentored more than 20 student co-authors, with two of her dissertation advisees receiving dissertation of the year awards. Dr. Dika also contributes to graduate curriculum development in research methodology.

Outside of academia, she enjoys hiking, traveling, cheering on her children’s sports and hobbies, and connecting with friends and family over coffee or a shared meal.