Doctoral Hooding Program

DOCTORAL CELEBRATION AND HOODING CEREMONY SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026 • 12 P.M.

COLLEGE OF ADULT AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Phillippe Performing Arts Center (PPAC) Marion, IN 46953

Doctoral Celebration and Hooding Ceremony Processional

Dr. RB Kuhn

Welcome

Dr. Tim Beuthin

Invocation

Rev. Bob Burchell

Regalia Explanation

Dr. Mark Rennaker

Reader

Dr. Penelope Callaway

Hooding Ceremony Dr. Shelley Webb and Dr. Marian Carpenter • DBA Program Dr. Darla Gowan and Dr. Beth DeKoninck • DNP Program Dr. Amie Anderson and Dr. Reuben Rubio • Ed.D. Program Dr. Mark Rennaker and Dr. Joanne Barnes • Ph.D. Program Commissioning Ceremony

Dr. Beth Bailey

Prayer and Closing Remarks

Dr. Shelley Webb

Doctor of Business Administration Ryan Bazant, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Building for the Future: A Framework for Sustainable Ownership Succession in a Private Construction Company Research Chair: Dr. Brian Schwarz

Tara Buckner, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Optimizing Consultant Utilization: Strategies to Achieve Balanced Workloads and Enhance Productivity and Operational Efficiency Research Chair: Dr. Rick Bartlett

Evelyn Chrivia, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Uncovering the Human Side of Lean: Leadership Development and Organizational Growth at Limitless Chocolates Research Chair: Dr. Rick Bartlett

Lindsey Coleman, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Enhancing Training Effectiveness Through Multiframework Evaluation Research Chair: Dr. Beth Walker

Jessica Dollahon, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Investigating the Operational and Financial Challenges of a Global Business Ethics Organization Research Chair: Dr. Linda Hayes

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Doctor of Business Administration Virginia Payton Edgington, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Securing Sustainable Funding for LifeSmart Education: Developing a Financial Sustainability Framework for Serving Low-Income Communities Research Chair: Dr. John Wesley

Trent Grable, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Ghost Students: Preventing Online Student Melt Research Chair: Dr. Marian Carpenter

Jennifer Hindman, DBA

Specialization in Healthcare Administration Applied Doctoral Project: Increased Patient Aggression Toward Healthcare Workers: A Growing Risk Research Chair: Dr. Douglas Sloan

Pavani Kottapalli, DBA

Specialization in Healthcare Administration Applied Doctoral Project: Reducing Patient Turnover and Improving Patient Outcomes Through Enhanced Healthcare Networking and Comprehensive Staff Training Research Chair: Dr. Mark Alexander

Jacques Biko Louis, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Addressing Operational Gaps and Delivery Challenges in Scaling Software Built by Design from a Small Business to a Larger Enterprise Research Chair: Dr. Dutch Kendall

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Doctor of Business Administration Neelabja Manna, DBA

Specialization in Information Systems Applied Doctoral Project: Rebuilding Privacy in a Post-Scandal Era Research Chair: Dr. Derek Holbert

Andrea McBride, DBA

Specialization in Information Systems Applied Doctoral Project: From Burnout to Balance: Leveraging AI to Restore Human-Centered Care Research Chair: Dr. Steven Linerode

Jenny Moore, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: A Lean Operations Approach to Reducing Downtime Research Chair: Dr. Shelley Webb

Amon Munyaneza, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Efficiency Through Digital Transformation Research Chair: Dr. Eric Harter

Tameca Perkins, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Revitalizing Inner-City Church In-Person Attendance and Engagement Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Research Chair: Dr. Janet Harrison

Nicole Pizzi, DBA

Specialization in Healthcare Administration Applied Doctoral Project: Accessibility of Emerging Novel Therapeutics for Mental Health Research Chair: Dr. Douglas Sloan

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Doctor of Business Administration Bryan Sappington, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Addressing Support Staff Turnover in a Small Private Veterinary Hospital: A Mixed Methods Investigation Research Chair: Dr. Brian Schwarz

Stephanie Stockett, DBA

Specialization in Healthcare Administration Applied Doctoral Project: Optimizing a Hospital’s Language Services Program Research Chair: Dr. Douglas Sloan

Tamika Thomas, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: The Effect of Trauma-Informed Practices on Commercial Driver’s License Class Completion Rates Research Chair: Dr. Lisa Parker

Vikki Walton, DBA

Specialization in Healthcare Administration Applied Doctoral Project: Optimizing Mobile Health Unit Utilization in Federally Qualified Health Centers for Underserved Populations Research Chair: Dr. Lisa Parker

Sarah Ward, DBA

Specialization in Management Applied Doctoral Project: Driving Strategic Growth by Increasing Executive Involvement on Nonprofit Boards Research Chair: Dr. Douglas Sloan

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Doctor of Nursing Practice Nancy A. Cielencki, DNP

Project Title: Assurance of Compliance with Required Sepsis Protocol Advisor: Dr. Laura Rigsby

Cheri Michelle Frederick , DNP

Project Title: Schizophrenia: Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Provider Education Advisor: Dr. Rhonda Oldham

Alyssa M. Murray, DNP

Project Title: Surviving Grief with Grace: Supporting Bereaved Parents through Perinatal Loss with Empathy and Experience Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Hoffpauir

Kristina Jean Page, DNP

Project Title: Systems Change Integrating Sunlight and Physical Activity Screening in Psychiatric Intake Advisor: Dr. Margaret Barnes

Sarah Senn, DNP

Project Title: Postoperative Urinary Retention Screening on Lower Extremity Joint Replacement Patients at an Outpatient Surgery Center Quality Improvement Policy Advisor: Dr. Rhonda Oldham

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Doctor of Education Ken Christmon, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: Understanding Black and Latino Male Student Success in the First Year of College Chair: Dr. Reuben Rubio Committee Members: Dr. Donis Toler • Dr. Dana Biddy

Rachel M. Christopherson, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: From Continuous to Weekly Supervision: An Action Research Approach to Enhancing Intern Experiences in Integrated Behavioral Health Chair: Dr. Debra Polster Committee Members: Dr. Amanda Davis • Dr. Jessilon Madison

Tisha Coles, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: Recommendations for Solving the Problem of Low Reading Comprehension on State Assessments for Community Schools’ English Language Learners Chair: Dr. Lori Hamilton Committee Members: Dr. Janet Randerson • Dr. Jason Covarrubias

Renee Michelle Crawford, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: The Impact of Standardized Assessments on African American Boys in Third Grade Chair: Dr. Nnenna Franciamore Committee Members: Dr. Denise Nixon • Dr. Julie Williams

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Doctor of Education Kimberly Diana Saunders Duell, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: The Impact of Weight Stigma on Black Women Leaders in Higher Education Chair: Dr. Rebecca Austin Committee Members: Dr. Joy Anderson • Dr. Daphne Washington

Judith Chinwe Egwuogu (nee Obasi), Ed.D. Dissertation Title: Impact of Simulated Education on Therapeutic Communication Chair: Dr. Nicole Johnson Committee Members: Dr. Shane Johnson • Dr. Lisa Rocca

Jerame Nathan Hicks, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: Factors Influencing Career and Technical Education Program Decision Making Among Secondary School Leadership Stakeholders Chair: Dr. Christopher Lagoni Committee Members: Dr. Zach Wilson • Dr. Brad Hamilton

Josie Mazza, Ed.D. Dissertation Title: The Exploration of Adultification of Black Girls in Urban Education Chair: Dr. Toya Washington Committee Members: Dr. Rosalie Pettigrew • Dr. Jeffrey Bond

Rachel McAlister, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: The Leadership Role of Southern West Virginia Administrators and Their Rural Special Education Programs Chair: Dr. Denise Nixon Committee Members: Dr. Daphne Washington • Dr. Amanda Davis

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Doctor of Education

Patience Chili Onyeji Ndikom, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: Implementing a Long-Term Care Finance Education Program to Improve Nurse Leaders’ Budget Competency Chair: Dr. Susan Draine Committee Members: Dr. Darla Gowan • Dr. Angela Bright

Karla N. Smith, Ed.D.

Dissertation Title: Two Lenses: A Study of Educator Perceptions of Differentiated Instruction in Ohio Chair: Dr. Amie Anderson Committee Members: Dr. Rick Bartlett • Dr. Kathryn Eads

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Doctor of Philosophy

with a major in Organizational Leadership

Aba Kweiba Azu, Ph.D. Dissertation Title: Inclusive Leadership: The Relationship Between Perceived Leaders’ Inclusive Behaviors and Employees’ Sense of Belonging Chair: Dr. Brad Grubb Committee Members: Dr. Joanne Barnes • Dr. Cary Snow

Laud Opata Azu, Ph.D.

Dissertation Title: An Exploration of the Relationship Between Followers’ Perceptions of Leader Support and the Followers’ Safety Task Behaviors in a Contract Food Manufacturing Company in the Northeast Chair: Dr. Brad Grubb Committee Members: Dr. Joanne Barnes • Dr. Diana Tuman

Marietta Wołczacka Frey, Ph.D.

Dissertation Title: Influence of Cultural Norms and Worldview on Change Leadership Behavior Among Leaders of Polish Heritage in the Midwest and Southwest United States Chair: Dr. Joanne Barnes Committee Members: Dr. Brad Grubb • Dr. Misty Resendez-Woods

Jessica Renee Herron, Ph.D.

Dissertation Title: The Relationship Between Attributes of Servant Leadership and Employee Burnout in Chicago Metropolitan Area Sales-Based Organizations Chair: Dr. Mark Rennaker Committee Members: Dr. Joanne Barnes • Dr. Tiffany Ann Johns

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Doctor of Philosophy

with a major in Organizational Leadership Ling Luo, Ph.D. Dissertation Title: Empowering Asian American Woman Leaders in Civic Engagement: The Role of Inclusive Leadership Behaviors Chair: Dr. Joanne Barnes Committee Members: Dr. Diana Tuman • Dr. Cary Snow

Corlisha Shala Mitchell, Ph.D. Dissertation Title: African American Christian Women Entrepreneur Perceptions of Spiritual Fortitude and Their Entrepreneurial Success Chair: Dr. Patricia Johnson Committee Members: Dr. Pamela Grissom • Dr. Michele Wells

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Please join us for individual program recognitions.

Doctor of Business Administration – Baker Recital Hall Doctor of Nursing Practice – PPAC Classroom 137 Doctor of Education – Band Room Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Organizational Leadership – Auditorium

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Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship, and leadership.

For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun!

Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

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