Mustafa Toprak, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education
Office: Harrington Academic Hall 316J
Email: mtoprak@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2034
Professional Profile
Dr. Mustafa Toprak is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership program at the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences at West Texas A&M University. He brings over 20 years of experience as a faculty member, researcher, educational leader, and teacher across K–12 and higher education settings. Prior to joining WTAMU, he served as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at Sharjah Education Academy in the United Arab Emirates, where he led the design, development, and accreditation of graduate programs focused on preparing educational leaders.
Dr. Toprak’s scholarship focuses on school leadership, educator well-being, organizational behavior in educational settings, educational policy, and leadership for inclusion. His work has been published in reputable academic journals such as Educational Management Administration & Leadership, Journal of Educational Administration, International Journal of Educational Leadership, International Journal of Educational Management, and Teaching and Teacher Education. He has published more than thirty peer-reviewed journal articles and is the author of the book: "Problems and Possibilities of Neoliberal Education Reforms: Accountability, High-Stakes Testing, and Inequality", published by Bloomsbury Academic.
Teaching and Related Service
My teaching experience spans graduate and undergraduate education across face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities, with particular emphasis on educational leadership, research methods, instructional leadership, organizational theory, educational psychology, and teaching and learning. My approach connects theory, research, and practice and encourages students to apply evidence-based knowledge to authentic educational challenges. I have also contributed substantially to curriculum and program development, including the development of educational leadership and inclusive education programs and, most recently, the co-construction of postgraduate diploma and master’s programs in Educational Leadership.
My teaching is complemented by extensive student mentorship and institutional service. I have supervised numerous completed graduate theses on topics ranging from instructional leadership and teacher digital literacy to inclusive education, student motivation, and action research. My service has included membership and leadership roles on academic, curriculum, research ethics, faculty affairs, and research committees, as well as the establishment and facilitation of Peer Communities of Learning. These activities reflect my commitment to supporting students and colleagues while contributing to the broader academic mission of the institutions I serve.
Research and Creative Activity
My research program centers on school leadership and educational policy, particularly educational change and decision-making, organizational behavior, emotionality and well-being in schools, and refugee education. Methodologically, my work draws on quantitative and qualitative approaches, including regression analysis, structural equation modeling, mixed methods, systematic reviews, and bibliometric analysis. My scholarship includes a 2025 book with Bloomsbury Academic and a substantial body of peer-reviewed research, including publications in leading Q1 and Q2 journals such as European Journal of Education, Educational Management Administration & Leadership, Journal of Educational Administration, Teaching and Teacher Education, and International Migration. My scholarly publications have received approximately 1,000 citations, reflecting the reach and impact of my research.
My scholarly activity also extends beyond journal publication to book chapters, conference presentations, invited workshops, and editorial and peer-review service. I have presented research at major conferences, including American Educational Research Association (AERA), and have contributed to scholarly publishing as an editor or editorial board member for several journals and academic series. My current research continues this trajectory through cross-national work on constraints on principal leadership and a systematic review of teacher turnover and school leadership.