In the fall of 2011, the University of Hawai'i College of Education initiated its Doctorate in Professional Educational Practice (EdD) program with the first cohort of thirty students. These students, representing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, began a three-year voyage of coursework and collaborative inquiry in applying research in practice. The program design included rigorous coursework and two major projects focused on the resolution of specific problems of practice. The first, a consultancy project, aimed at working with clients in the local community to utilize the application of research in solving problems arising from the educational practice of clients. The program culminated with each student conducting an independent research study of their choice and publishing their findings in a dissertation. The EdD program distinguishes itself from the PhD program in that it provides an opportunity for students to explore a problem of practice and allows practical applications of the findings in the dissertation. The authors of this article are graduates of the first cohort of the EdD program (2011-2014) and share their perspectives on the dissertation experience.