LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A Louisville family will celebrate a unique multi-generational achievement this May as Brandon Colbert, his wife Danielle, and his grandmother Kim walk the stage together at Spalding University to earn their Doctor of Education in Leadership degrees.
Danielle, Brandon, and Kim Colbert, known as “The Colbert Cohort,” enrolled in Spalding’s Ed.D. Leadership program together and completed their studies side by side while balancing full-time careers, family responsibilities, and raising a young child.
“The Colbert family has shown remarkable determination throughout this program,” said Dr. Thomas Malewitz, director of the Ed.D. Leadership Program at Spalding University. “They supported their cohort every step of the way, and their advocacy and service in the greater Louisville community will continue to be felt locally and beyond.”
“We came into this together, and we are finishing it together, and that means more than I can say,” said Brandon Colbert. “For our family, education has always been about serving others, and this degree only deepens our ability to do that in Louisville. I hope our daughter carries that with her for the rest of her life.”
Kim Colbert works as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She founded KIM Counseling Center and also serves as a clinical therapist at Home of the Innocents. Danielle Colbert is the executive director for academic support at Simmons College, while Brandon works as an organizational culture leader across education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors.
Kim said her pursuit of a doctorate reflects a broader mission.
“I wanted to get my doctorate so that I can continue to educate those who are coming behind me,” she said. “Education is the key to the future.”
The Colbert Cohort has received strong support from both the university and the community.
“What the Colbert family has accomplished reflects the heart of Spalding’s mission,” said Dr. Anne Kenworthy, president of Spalding University. “They came to this program driven by a commitment to something larger than themselves, and they pursued it together as a family. We are proud to celebrate them as part of our Class of 2026 this May.”
Following their commencement ceremony on May 9 at the Galt House—featuring a keynote address by Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes—the family will go on to defend their dissertations later in the summer.
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