Wilmington University Doctor of Business Administration

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be-Dr. Jean Davis, who recently defended her dissertation " Succession Planning Strategies for Family-Owned Businesses in Delaware " Thank you to Jean's committee: Chair, Dr. Amy Danley, and committee member, Dr. John Sparco. Congratulations, Jean!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Christopher Hammond who recently defended his dissertation “Exploration of Success Factors for Apparel and Footwear Retailers in Baltimore and Washington D.C.”.

Thank you to Christopher’s committee: Chair Dr. Norman, and committee member, Dr. Sparco.

Congratulations Christopher!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Louis Rider who recently defended their dissertation “Assessing Information Technology Outsourcing and Recommendations for a Successful Information Technology Outsourcing Relationship”.

Thank you to Louis’s committee: Chair Dr. Danley, and committee member, Dr. Claghorn.

Congratulations Louis!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Leonard Weiser who recently defended their dissertation “Effectively Engaging Continuing Care Retirement Community Residents in Substantive Change Initiatives to Obtain an Acceptable Outcome”.

Thank you to Leonard’s committee: Chair Dr. Danley, and committee member, Dr. Weinstein.

Congratulations Leonard!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Chelsey White who recently defended her dissertation “Barriers Contributing to Child Hunger in Washington County, MD”.

Thank you to Chelsey’s committee: Chair Dr. Norman, and committee member, Dr. Sparco.

Congratulations Chelsey!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Mohammed Choubdar who recently defended his dissertation “An Investigation of Nursing Staff Self-Efficacy in Patient Care Following the Implementation of an Augmented Reality Training System”.

Thank you to Mohammed’s committee: Chair Dr. Danley, and committee member, Dr. McCloskey.

Congratulations Moh!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Maralyn Lupus who recently defended her dissertation “Workplace Violence Occurrences and Reporting in Ambulatory Healthcare”.

Thank you to Maralyn’s committee: Chair Dr. Danley, and committee member, Dr. Sebach.

Congratulations Maralyn!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Christopher Price who recently defended his dissertation “Implications of Ethical Consumerism for Zillennial Alcohol Purchase Decisions”.

Thank you to Christopher’s committee: Chair Dr. Norman, and committee member, Dr. McCloud.

Congratulations Christopher!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Laura Harrington who recently defended their dissertation “Social Determinants for Women and their Children in Poverty: Effects of Post-Secondary Education in a Two-Generational Model”.

Dr. Laura Harrington is an accomplished healthcare professional with extensive experience in quality improvement and healthcare inspections. With a background in healthcare systems management, she has held key positions in veteran healthcare, overseeing various aspects of programmatic risk and patient safety. Dr. Harrington's expertise extends to her roles in coordinating VHA inspections and hotline responses, demonstrating her leadership and organizational skills. She holds certifications in Lean Six Sigma and PROSCI Change Management, showcasing her commitment to driving positive change in healthcare. Currently serving as an Associate Director at the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Dr. Harrington continues to make significant contributions to quality and patient safety in veteran healthcare.

Dr. Harrington's dissertation focuses on understanding the experiences and impacts of single mothers with children who have completed workforce development training programs, shedding light on critical issues such as housing stability, employment outcomes, and overall well-being. Her research found that programmatic integration of financial literacy education, career coaching and mentorship, and transitional programming would improve the sustainability of an upward social trajectory for single mothers. Through her research, she aims to contribute valuable insights to inform policies and interventions that improves the lives of vulnerable populations. Dr. Harrington will graduate with honors in June 2024. She resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with her husband and three children.

Thank you to Laura’s committee: Chair Dr. Danley, and committee member, Dr. Weinstein.

Congratulations Laura!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Marc Duey. Here are a few words from Marc:

“Digital Cancer Patient Engagement: Factors Influencing Utilization is the title of my thesis. It was challenging and very interesting to work on this challenging subject. I would like to thank my family for all the support, patience, and understanding they provided. Second, I would like to thank Dr. Danley and Dr. Gonzalez for their invaluable guidance during the writing phase of the project. Finally, I would like to thank the members of cohort 33 who made the journey stimulating and rewarding.”

Congratulations Marc!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Benjamin Delp who recently defended his dissertation “The Impact of Public Service Motivation and Employee Financial Well-Being in Public Service Organizations”.

“Throughout my extensive career in financial services, my passion for delivering financial well-being for all has been deeply ingrained. This journey has reached its pinnacle in my dissertation through the Wilmington University DBA Program, where I've delved into the interconnected realms of employee motivation and financial well-being within public sector organizations. Along this transformative path, I've been profoundly fortunate to receive unwavering support and insightful guidance from mentors, colleagues, and, above all, my father Brian Delp, and my beloved grandparents, Walter, and Anna Bronik. The DBA Program at Wilmington University has not only enriched my understanding but also ignited an enduring flame of dedication to this vital cause.”
– Benjamin Delp

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-delp/

Thank you to Ben’s committee: Chair Dr. Danley, and committee member, Dr. Rescigno.

Congratulations Ben!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Oyindamola Ijewere!

Oyindamola has over twenty years experience working as a management and strategy professional, locally, and internationally within organizations of differing sizes across multiple continents.

Her dissertation explored the factors influencing a Black small business owner's decision to sell their business to a worker cooperative. Given the significant contributions of SMEs to the American economy and the looming silver tsunami, there is a need for continuity of these businesses for a host of reasons inclusive of job and wealth preservation in addition to promoting legacy businesses.

In her professional capacity, she serves at Project Equity, helping steward ownership transitions of SMEs to worker cooperatives and employee-owned trusts. She has conducted research at the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University. She is interested in ensuring business continuity for SMEs primarily using the worker cooperative and trust models. She is also interested in research that will advance this work.

Thank you to Oyindamola’s committee: Chair Dr. Gonzalez, and committee member, Dr. Danley.

Congratulations Oyindamola!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Samira Savoury for recently completing her dissertation. Here are some words from Samira Savoury:

“My research, titled “Succession Planning in Delaware Copreneur and Family-Owned Businesses: An Inquiry into Influences, Challenges, and Best Practices," sought to shed light on a critical yet often overlooked area within the family and copreneur business sectors.
As an entrepreneur and a business consultant deeply involved with the small business community in the Delaware/Philadelphia area, I felt compelled to explore the complexities of succession planning. This journey has not only been an academic endeavor but also a means to contribute valuable insights to the business community.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my chair, Dr. Lemar White, and Co-Chair, Dr. Amy Danley, whose guidance was instrumental in honing my research methodologies, and to the entire Wilmington University faculty and staff for their unwavering support. A big thank you to my fellow cohort members for their support and the team spirit we've maintained. It's been invaluable.
Lastly, but most importantly, my family has been the cornerstone of my strength and persistence. Their support has been a beacon of inspiration throughout this academic journey.
As I close this chapter, I look forward to the impact this work may have, and I am proud to mark this milestone achievement.”

Congratulations Samira!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Elijah Murphy who recently defended his dissertation “Cryptocurrency and Central Bank Digital Currency Adoption Reasons Between Banked and Unbanked/Underbanked U.S. Citizens: An Exploratory Study”.

Elijah would like to give recognition "To Dr. Kennedy-Ratajack and Dr. Claghorn for their patience and support."

Congratulations Elijah!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Chesney West! Here are a few words from Chesney:

“My dissertation topic was “FINANCIAL PREPAREDNESS: A Quantitative Analysis of College Students' Financial Literacy and the Impact of Education and Socioeconomics"

I am currently a Financial Literacy teacher at Laurel High School. This topic is near and dear to my purpose and as I continue to encourage change in education surrounding financial literacy.

I would like to recognize my chair Dr. Amy Danley and my committee member Dr. John Sparco for their unwavering support.

In addition, my cohort family and last but certainly not least my family and friends who kept me encouraged during this process.”

Congratulations Chesney West!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate Dr. Tina Russell.
Dr. Tina Russell successfully defended her dissertation in November 2023 titled "An Exploration of Higher Education Compliance Program Design and Maturity."

Just a few short months later she was hired as the inaugural University Compliance Officer for Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, tasked with using her research experience to lead the development of a university-wide compliance program.

“A special thanks to my committee Chair, Dr. Ruth Norman, and Dr. Roxanne Satterfield, for their selfless academic and emotional support throughout my dissertation journey!
Thanks!” - Christina (Tina) Russell

Congratulations Christina!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. James Lewis who recently defended his dissertation “Factors Influencing Jamaican ACCA Students’ Pursuit of ACCA Certification”.

Thank you to James’s committee: Chair Dr. Gonzalez, and committee member, Dr. Danley.

Congratulations James!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. David Hanlin who recently defended his dissertation “Exploring Special Diets for Older Adults Through the Lens of Jobs-to-be-Done”.

Thank you to David’s committee: Chair Dr. Norman, and committee member, Dr. Walton.

Congratulations David!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Jeffrey Benson who recently defended his dissertation “The Impact of Diversity within the Insurance Industry’s Senior Leadership and its Effects on African American Advancement”.

Thank you to Jeffrey’s committee: Chair Dr. Patricia Claghorn, and committee member, Dr. Amy Danley. Congratulations Jeffrey!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Christopher Middleton who recently defended his dissertation “System Design for Managing Shared Research Resources at a Cancer Center”.

Thank you to Christopher’s committee: Chair Dr. Ruth Norman, and committee member, Dr. Keith Pettiford.
Congratulations Christopher!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Justin Houseknecht who recently defended his dissertation “Perceptions of Student Engagement in Private Higher Education Institutions”.

Thank you to Justin’s committee: Chair Dr. Patricia Claghorn, and committee member, Dr. Allison Jengehino. Congratulations Justin!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate soon-to-be Dr. Timothy Dudas who recently defended his dissertation “Examination of iLottery Participation in Illinois in Relation to Consumer Behaviors and Motivations”.
Here’s a few words from Timothy:

“My name is Timothy Dudas (LinkedIn). I work at Allwyn North American, a leading lottery operator, supplier, and business partner. My dissertation is titled "Assessment of Consumer Behaviors and Motivations Driving Participation in iLottery in Illinois" which examines different consumer characteristics driving lottery participation in Illinois. I would like to recognize my Wilmington chair and committee, Dr. Ruth Norman and Dr. Shawn McCloud, who provided excellent mentorship and oversight of my dissertation process. In addition, my cohort members made the doctoral journey interesting and engaging throughout the program. Finally, I would like to recognize my wife, Dr. Crystal Dudas, who helped support my doctoral path sharing unforgettable experiences along the way.”

www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-dudas

Congratulations Timothy!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Jeff Bruns who recently defended his dissertation “Grit and Ambition: Relationship with Knowledge-Seeking Behaviors”.
Thank you to Jeffrey’s committee: Chair Dr. John Sparco, and committee member, Dr. Amy Danley. Congratulations Jeff!

The DBA Program would like to congratulate the soon-to-be Dr. Deborah Abrams!

Deborah M. Abrams defended her dissertation titled "Mt. San Jacinto College Hispanic Students’ Perceptions of How Their Teachers’ Equity-Oriented Practices Impact Their Success" on January 18. She teaches at Mt. San Jacinto College in Southern California and online at Wilmington University. Her research focused on the impact of teachers’ equity-oriented practices on the academic success of Hispanic students at Mt. San Jacinto College.
Abrams, a retired Air Force Intelligence Officer, applies her background to her educational work, emphasizing the importance of inclusive teaching strategies.

Her research contributed to the ongoing discussion on educational equity and offers guidance for implementing effective teaching practices.

Thank you to Deborah's committee: Chair, Dr. Ruth Norman and committee member, Dr. Guillermina Gonzalez. Congratulations Deborah!