ULL: Sisters Are 1st Grads In New PhD Program

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette says its first students to earn a doctorate in educational leadership for higher education are sisters who are both university officials.

They're 64-year-old Ellen Cook, assistant vice president for academic affairs, and 62-year-old Anita Cook Hazelwood, director of the university's health information management program.

The university's commencement is Friday.

A news release says Hazelwood began working for the university in 1976, and Cook started a year later.

The sisters grew up in Houma. Each earned a bachelor's degree at Lafayette-Louisiana and a master's degree at Louisiana State University.

Until 2013, Lafayette-Louisiana's educational leadership doctorate covered only elementary and secondary education.

Courses include legal and public policy, fiscal management and student affairs.

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