Brandon Gilliland

Assistant Instructor
bgilliland3@jsu.edu 

Dr. Brandon Gilliland is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Director of the Doctor of Education program at Jacksonville State University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in social studies education, educational research, assessment, and educational leadership. His primary research interests are school safety and education law, particularly the policies, leadership practices, and legal issues that shape safe and effective learning environments.

Before joining the JSU faculty, Dr. Gilliland served for 18 years in Alabama public education as a secondary social sciences teacher and school administrator. His experience in K–12 education continues to shape his teaching, research, and leadership by connecting scholarly inquiry with the practical challenges faced by educators and school leaders.

As Ed.D. Program Director, Dr. Gilliland provides leadership for doctoral programming, student support, curriculum development, and the Dissertation in Practice process. He is committed to creating a rigorous, practitioner-focused doctoral experience that helps educational leaders investigate authentic problems of practice and produce meaningful improvements in their schools and communities.

Dr. Gilliland earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Education in Social Science Education from the University of West Alabama, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership from Creighton University. He is actively involved in university service, educator preparation, doctoral education, and initiatives that strengthen partnerships between Jacksonville State University and Alabama schools.