I chose Marymount for the pursuit of my Doctorate because I was looking for a program that was flexible and modern. Considering a Doctorate in the height of COVID-19 gave me the perspective I had never considered before about the consumption of public services and the related economic implications. Additionally, work-life fit became more important than work-life balance, and I wanted a program that would honor my humanity as a parent with a career, but would also nurture my intellectual curiosity to eventually launch an initiative to make real change in my community.
This is not my first time pursuing graduate studies. I have two Master's degrees from prominent universities. I appreciate the experience from those programs, but I finished them without purpose or a sense of community. The cohort model at Marymount will help me accomplish my primary goals — community, networking and professional identity.
I hope to influence the federal and state governance of public school information. Let’s disrupt the “school quality” narrative to a narrative of “school value”. Our neighborhood schools are so much more than their accountability metrics. My research at Marymount will shift public discourse about the available public school data published by state departments of education, local school districts and third-party sites. No one data point can accurately determine the effectiveness of K-12 schools. Instead, “school value characteristics” are best understood in context and a multifaceted data story that evolves within local communities.
My ultimate, long-term professional goal is to become a social entrepreneur for public education. A social entrepreneur explores business opportunities that have a positive impact on their community and directly addresses a social issue. A social entrepreneur differs from a traditional entrepreneur because we are driven by the outcome to benefit society and bring about positive changes, rather than profit. I have spent over 12 years as a public educator, from a classroom teacher to a district administrator, and I have experienced firsthand the challenges of mass public schooling, from modernizing the classroom to innovating instructional programs.
As a transformative social entrepreneur, I plan to launch a business model that will address the public school information gap that school systems and state governments aren’t currently meeting for community stakeholders. My initiative will empower families to participate in two-way communication with their local schools and empower community stakeholders to invest in stronger partnerships with public schools to improve communities. Additionally, my initiative will support schools with strategic family and community engagement programming.
I grew up in a military family traveling the U.S. before settling in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia as a youth. I resided in Virginia Beach until I watched the Waiting for Superman documentary, which inspired my move to the Washington, D.C. metro area to join the school reform movement and contribute to a greater change in the nation’s capital. I will always identify as an educator, whether or not I am in a formal role. I often share my knowledge of the inner workings of the public school system with family, friends and community members to improve educational outcomes for all.
I have lived a few lifetimes in my career. I went from pre-pharmacy, public relations, logistics and education to product marketing for one of the Big Tech companies. I have seamlessly enacted transferable skills I have developed from roles and responsibilities across industries, such as communication, learning and development, and project management to deliver large programs of work. As a program manager for large organizations, I articulate a program’s strategy, focus on long-term business objectives, supervise projects and measure overall return on investment. I am an expert in program communications, where I implement communication strategies that include managing information requirements, change management and internal communications to key stakeholders and internal employees.
The biggest highlight of my experience with Marymount’s Ed.D. program is the focus on the dissertation in practice (DiP) starting in the first semester. I have colleagues, friends and associates at comparable universities who were not well supported in the preparation or completion of their dissertations. Our professors have been so intentional in making connections and assigning coursework that will support our DiP. A timeline was presented, and we are on track. As a third-year doctoral student, I have been supported with IRB and my research proposal through coursework to become a doctoral candidate, and I’m on track to finish my study summer of 2023.
View the full course curriculum, tuition info, admission requirements and more. One of our admissions advisors will be in touch to support you and discuss next steps.
I chose MU because I wanted something close and local. I evaluated 3 programs before deciding on MU. The responsiveness of the graduate student advisors played a role as well as the cost competitiveness of the program in my final decision.
As someone who has led through a pandemic now, the biggest highlight has been the level of community engagement of the program.
I chose MU because I wanted something close and local. I evaluated 3 programs before deciding on MU. The responsiveness of the graduate student advisors played a role as well as the cost competitiveness of the program in my final decision.
To proceed with either the BSN to MSN FNP or the BSN to DNP FNP or the BSN to DNP PMHNP or the MSN PMHNP, you are required to have a bachelor’s degree and hold your RN license.
To proceed with either the PMC-FNP or the PMC-DNP or the PMC-PMHNP, you are required to have a master's degree and hold your RN license.
To proceed with the ABSN, you are required to have a bachelor's degree.
If you don’t meet these requirements but would still like further information, please contact us.
To proceed with the EdD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Leadership degree, you are required to have a master’s degree.
If you don’t meet this requirement but would still like further information, please contact us.
To proceed with the Doctor of Business Administration - Business Intelligence degree, you are required to have a master’s degree.
If you don’t meet this requirement but would still like further information, please contact us.
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