Rodney McNeill has been the principal of Greene Early College High School for the past seven years. Three years ago, he embarked on an academic journey to pursue his doctoral degree at East Carolina University. For the past three years, Mr. McNeill has focused his studies on finding ways to advance the cause of undocumented students at Greene Early College.

After thousands of hours of reading, interviewing, editing, and revising, McNeill successfully defended his dissertation before a committee of ECU professors and Greene County Schools' superintendent Dr. Patrick Miller. Dr. Miller immediately sent out an email to district leadership announcing McNeill's accomplishment and introducing him as Dr. McNeill for the first time officially. “This is a tremendous milestone in my professional life. I am so grateful for my close friends, family, school staff, colleagues, and the former students that shared their stories with me along the way.” I could not have done this without an incredible team around me.” 

Dr. McNeill officially graduates on May 7, 2021, with his Doctor of Education Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) degree. He will also earn his superintendent's endorsement on the same day. As for future plans, Dr. McNeill says he is enjoying his time at Greene Early College and is looking forward to having a "little more free time, now that I am no longer writing a dissertation." Dr. McNeill also credits Dr. Patrick Greene, the principal of Greene Central High School, who successfully defended his dissertation on the same day. "We were partners in this from day one," McNeill said, "It really helped to have someone to push me that was doing the same work that I was.”