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
Prayer and Closing Remarks
Dr. Beth Bailey
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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