Cohort 2 Doctoral Bios

Carrie Artis was drawn to education believing it was the civil rights issue of today and wanting to give back to her community. She began as a student intern with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) System of Maryland in 2005. She became a full-time educator as a high school social studies teacher with FCPS in 2006. Carrie has served in varying roles during her tenure with Frederick County Public Schools. She thrives in education environments where she builds programs from the ground to a thriving, healthy status. Carrie was the first teacher ever to become a recruiter for Frederick County Public Schools. During her time as a teacher recruiter, she organized and led the teacher recruitment program, which included organizing the first-ever FCPS teacher job fair, drafting the first FCPS Diversity Recruitment Plan, coordinating administrative and teacher recruiters, and serving as the FCPS Professional Develop School liaison. Carrie also served as the lead for the FCPS English Language Staffing workgroup and served on the superintendent's systemic plan implementation team.  Carrie returned to a school-based position to become one of only four Linking Youth to New Experiences (LYNX) Advocates at Frederick High School charged with implementing the new and innovative LYNX program. Currently, Carrie is an Assistant Principal at Frederick High School where she serves the needs of over 1500 students and 100 staff members. 

Carrie holds a bachelors of arts degree in economics with a concentration in East Asian Studies. She earned her Masters of Teacher degree from Mount St. Mary’s University and her Educational Leadership certificate from Hood College. For the Education Leadership certification, Carrie studied the impact of participation in a girl’s empowerment group on African American female students who received free or reduced meals. Carrie is currently a Doctorate of Organizational Leadership (DOL) candidate at Hood College.  Carrie’s dissertation is a mixed-methods exploration of school-based administrators’ perceptions of self-efficacy as educational equity leaders.  Carrie aspires to play a greater role in supporting and developing educational equity leaders.

Carrie is most proud of her family, her husband of 20 years, Christopher, and their three children Kai, Kendall, and Christopher II. In acknowledgement of her hard-work and commitment to students and the community, Carrie was awarded the 2018 Woman of Distinction Award for Education by the Chi Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.

Pastor, Christ Reformed United Church of Christ, Shepherdstown, West Virginia

By the time Gayle Bach-Watson considered applying to the DOL Program at Hood College she had lived at 17 addresses throughout the northeast United States. Never having had a hometown, per se, the most important things in her life became family, relationships, and her church life. Gayle began her college career at the University of Maine at Orono, continued at Montgomery College while working a job with a rotating shift, and graduated with a B.A. in clinical psychology from George Mason in Fairfax, Virginia. She worked at a number of different positions in several different professions, never quite feeling fulfilled or satisfied. She took a hiatus of several years to have children – her daughters, Jessica and Alexandra – and then answered a call to attend seminary. Gayle attended Wesley Theological Seminary, graduated in 1999, and was ordained into the Christian ministry of the United Church of Christ in 2000. Since then, she has pastored several churches and has held a number of leadership positions in the local association, the area conference, and the larger denomination. One of the most exciting has been to serve as part of the Polity Teachers Network of the United Church of Christ, which is on the frontline of training new pastors.

From an early age Gayle has believed in stretching her horizons while engaging in widely varying pastimes, interests, and hobbies. These include genealogical research, singing with the Shepherd University Masterworks Chorale, medieval history, research, and re-enactment, travel, bird-watching, and hiking. Gayle is just finishing renovating a 117-year-old farmhouse in Knoxville, Maryland.

Education

• M.Div., Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., 1999
• B.A., Clinical Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 1981

Global Category Manager, AstraZeneca

Noah Borgen is currently a Global Category Manger and a Business Partner for MedImmune (AstraZeneca’s early phase biotech company) at AstraZeneca. Noah co-leads teams responsible for evaluating the capabilities of AstraZeneca’s procurement professionals and for making partnering part of the AstraZeneca enterprise procurement model.

Noah had his first leadership role at age 9, when he was asked to train and lead a team of teenage referees in a youth basketball league (and where he first learned the importance of using influence rather than authority). Noah later enlisted in the United States Navy, where he led with situational authority in law enforcement, and was regularly kept at the side of one leader or another as a sounding board or candid counsel. Near the end of his enlistment, Noah deployed to Afghanistan where, as petty officer, he was asked to attend and then run senior officer logistics meetings.

The combination of Naval law and logistics experience helped Noah to transition to a role in corporate procurement following his enlistment. Noah worked at Johnson & Johnson leading professional services and IT categories for their pharmaceutical R&D company, Janssen Research & Development, from 2012 to 2013, and then for the whole of Johnson & Johnson R&D from 2013 until 2016. While at J&J, Noah started Villanova’s Executive M.B.A. program. In 2016 Noah finished his EMBA, but not before moving his family to Maryland to work in his current role at AstraZeneca as a Global Category Manager and Business Partner to MedImmune.

Noah’s journey has been challenging, but he regularly reflects on how often his professional roles mirror a 9-year-old attempting to train, lead, and manage a team of teenagers.

Education

• Executive M.B.A., Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 2016
• B.S., English (Creative Writing), Towson University, Towson, Maryland, 2009

Dr. Philip Brown received his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in 2020 and received the Dr. Brown is the President and CEO, Phoenix Mecano Inc., a global organization, supporting automation and technology solutions for over 40-years. In 2006, Philip completed his relocation from the United Kingdom with his wife Ann, and their three children, Eleanor, Matthew, and Charlotte. 

Dr. Brown is a member of the Hood College Chapter of the International Business Honor Society, Delta Mu Delta, 2019; Hood College 3MT Event 2020; Hood College Doctoral Research Dissertation, 2020. 

Education: 

MBA, Henley Management College, Henley-on-Thames, UK  
Incorporated Engineer IEng., Engineering Council, UK 

Dr. Brown’s dissertation was on An Exploratory Quantitative Study of Intangible Exchange Determinants of Business-to-Business Relationship Value 

Dr. Brian Crilly received his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)  in 2020 and was the 2021 recipient of The Kathleen Bands Outstanding Doctoral Student Award. Dr. Crilly grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. He currently serves as Director of Systems and Software Engineering at Thales Defense & Security, Inc. Dr. Crilly received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and later earned his M.B.A. degree at Mount St. Mary's University. He began taking classes at Hood College in 2017 as a 2020 Doctoral Cohort member and found the doctoral program to be a wonderful experience due to the faculty's dedication and the breadth of insights offered by the cohort members' diverse perspectives. For the past two years, Dr. Crilly has served as an adjunct instructor at Hood College, teaching technical project management. He is excited to return to the doctoral program this semester, supporting the current doctoral cohort as an instructor for their statistical methods course. 

Education:  

MBA, Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 2013 
Project Management Certificate, Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 2013 
MSEE, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 1993 
BSEE, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 1990 

Dr. Crilly’s dissertation is on Ambidextrous Project Management: The Influences of Leadership Styles, Project Management Practices, and Team Characteristics on Creativity and Innovation 

Dr Christopher Currens received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership in 2021. Dr. Currens is the Chief Learning Office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), as well as the principal member and founder of Currens & Associates.  He oversees the NIST Leadership and Employee Development (LED) Program, which provides organizational and professional development advice to NIST leaders, coaching and mentoring programs, continuous improvement initiatives and interventions, and a comprehensive leadership development and training curriculum. Based on his research on non-profit board governance, Chris presented his findings and recommendations to the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) National Convention.  In addition, he created a governance video for continued use by Catholic elementary school leaders. 

Education: 

MPA, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University 
MBA, Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland 
B.S. (magna cum laude), Accounting (minor in Finance), Mount Saint Mary’s College 

Dr. Currens’ dissertation was on Catholic Elementary School Success: Governance Lessons from a Qualitative Study of Five Advisory Boards in the Archdiocese of Baltimore 

Dr. Kathryn Dao received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2021. She joined Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. (LBR), in 2015. Kathie brings more than 15 years of experience in the areas of operations and administration, data analysis and reporting, recruiting, workforce planning, HR information systems, process improvement, training and development, and compensation administration and design. Prior to joining LBR, Kathie held several human resources positions, most recently human resources project manager, for Bechtel Infrastructure & Power Corporation. Prior to that, Kathie supported Marriott International’s corporate law department in the areas of development, operations and labor and employment. 

Education: 
MBA, Mount St. Mary’s University, 2014 
Graduate Certificate in Organizational Development, Mount St. Mary’s University, 2014 
B.S., Business, Mount St. Mary’s University, 2008 

Dr. Dao’s dissertation is on, From Manager to Coach: How Managers Change Following Managerial Coaching Model Implementation 

Dr. Susan Glover received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2020. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Quality & Integrity Officer for Adventist HealthCare, located in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  This role is a member of Adventist HealthCare’s (AHC) senior leadership team, and she provides overall direction for Quality and Patient Safety in AHC.  Responsibilities for this role include leading system-wide performance improvement activities and the Care Excellence Electronic Health Record implementation.  She is also serves as Chief Compliance Officer for Adventist HealthCare and is responsible for compliance and internal audit services in the health system. Prior to her work with Adventist HealthCare, Mrs. Glover has served in various executive and nursing roles in Adventist HealthCare organizations for the last 31 years.  

Dr. Glover is a Past Board Member and Chair of Maryland Patient Safety Center, committee member of the MHA Clinical Quality Committee, and a committee member of the Maryland Health Care Commission Data Advisory Committee. Mrs. Glover has served as inaugural chair of the Montgomery County Healthcare Collaborative on Emergency Preparedness.  This innovative committee, created in 2001, was charged with developing a comprehensive Montgomery County provider emergency preparedness response system after 9/11. In addition, she serves as the Rotary International District 7620 Chair for the Youth Exchange Program. 

Education:  

M.H.A., University of Maryland, University College, College Park, Maryland, 1989 
B.S.N., George Mason University, Fairfax Virginia, 1980 

Dr. Glover’s dissertation is on Leadership Styles, Safety Culture Elements, and Serious Safety Events: An Empirical Investigation within a Healthcare System 

Dr. James Jansen received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2022. He was also the recipient of The Outstanding Dissertation Award for Quantitative Research to Advance Leadership in Business in 2022.  Dr. Jansen is currently the Leadership in Context training program manager at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Division of Talent Development. His areas of training specialty are leadership effectiveness, performance management, coaching and mentoring, as well as diversity and inclusion. James is a retired military veteran whose awards include the bronze star.  He has over 20 years of experience in employee development. Dr. Jansen is also a Member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education.  

Education: 

M.S., Computer Information Systems, University of Phoenix, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1999 
B.S., Psychology, South East Missouri State University, 1988 

Dr. Jansen’s dissertation was on,  Predictors of Turnover Intent in the Executive Branch: A Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis Using Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Indices. 

A native Washingtonian, Essence Jones is passionate about assisting others and giving back. Essence holds a dual bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology, a master’s degree in human sciences/psychology, and a certificate in thanatology. A human services professional who has been working in the field for over 15 years, Essence has expertise in case management, budget and grant management, supervising, and training. Well equipped with in-depth knowledge of human behavior theories, including extensive experience assisting people with addictions, behavior problems, disabilities, and mental illness, she is also experienced within such varied settings as community living programs, government agencies, detention centers, college campuses, and residential placement centers. While adept in crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques and problem-solving skills, Essence is also expertly capable of making recommendations and referrals to other sources when necessary. She is also a skilled public speaker.

Adroit at curriculum creation, Essence is a successful instructor who has improved retention rates and funding. She is a proven leader who is able to work with diverse stakeholders and keep all relevant parties informed of all major issues and programs, and recommend changes as appropriate. As a program director and project manager, Essence has developed structures and professional record keeping methods that increased the proficiency and effectiveness of her Core Services Agency, which delivers mental health services to Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Louisiana.

Education

• M.A., Human Sciences and Psychology with a Certificate of Thanatology, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland
  Graduate studies (30 credits), Counseling Psychology, Towson University, Towson, Maryland
• B.A., Psychology and Sociology, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland

Dr. Jones’ dissertation is on Exploring the Grief and Bereavement of Adult Women Washingtonians Who Experienced the Loss of Their Mothers to Death During Adolescence 

Ebony Nicole-Kelly proudly stewards the vision of Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of Maryland, in the capacity of principal and anti-racist instructional school leader by cultivating staff who creates positive teaching and learning experiences for elementary school student-scholars, parents, caregivers, guardians, and community.  

• M.Ed., Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2002
• B.S., University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, 1998
• Spanish Certificate, Maryland in Ecuador, Cuenca, Ecuador, 1997
  
  Dr. Nicole-Kelly's dissertation is on Leading for Educational Equity and Change: A Case Study of Assistant Principals’ Beliefs and Actions 

Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2020 and was the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Dissertation Award Established in 2020 by Manuel A. Casiano, MBA’03, H’08. Dr. Lozupone is an educator, writer, speaker, coach and mentor who transformed her own life, from a teen mother to a successful college administrator and business owner. At Montgomery College, she has led in both the academic and student affairs divisions where she has created and fostered multiple student programs. Along with her official duties, she has led and developed employee initiatives and served as a mentor and board member for organizations benefitting youth from underrepresented populations. She launched Wishful Doing LLC (wishfuldoings.com) to share her expertise and to empower individuals and organizations to live and lead lives “wishful doing.” As a speaker and consultant, she works with non-profit organizations to global companies to translate vision into reality. Ja’Bette earned her doctorate in organizational leadership from Hood College. She also holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in communications and Hispanic American philology from Hood College. 

Education:  

M.B.A., Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, 2010 
B.A., Communications, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, 2004 

Dr. Lozupone’s dissertation is on Whom Do We Entrust to Care for Our Students: Organizational Fit to Foster an Ethical Culture of Employee and Student Success 

Dr. Sundra Mann received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2020. She has been employed with Montgomery County Public Schools for 20 years and has served at all levels, elementary, middle, and high school. Most recently, she proudly serves as the principal of Georgian Forest Elementary School. Her advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion as been widely recognized across her organization. 

While working on her DOL at Hood College, Dr. Mann also made time to share her knowledge and expertise by presenting her work at national, state, and local leadership conferences hosted by NASSP, MAESP, MCAAP, and MCABSE. Some of her session titles include: Unpacking Microagressions in the Workplace,” “The Future of Professional Development: Providing Flexibility & Freedom,” “Microaggressions in the Classroom: Our Role as School Leaders,” “Designing Professional Development to Lead Effective School Improvement, ” and “Climate, Culture, & Conduct.” 

Education:  

Post M.A., Administrative and Supervision, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, 2005 
M.A., Secondary Special Education, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 2003 
M.S., Business Management, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, Maryland, 1999 
B.S., Business Finance, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia, 1991 

Dr. Mann’s dissertation was on Microaggressions in K-12 Schools: A Call for Culturally Proficient Leadership 

Dr.  Olaoluwasupo Ojo received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2022.An accomplished executive with more than 20 years of domestic and international experience in business development, change management, and process improvements involving both start-up and growth organizations, Dr. Ojo is a result-oriented and decisive leader with proven success in new market identification and strategic positioning for multimillion-dollar healthcare and retail organizations. 

Dr. Ojo excels in dynamic and demanding environments while remaining pragmatic and focused. As a visionary leader and entrepreneur, he founded and successfully grew numerous businesses from zero revenue to multimillion-dollar revenue. Dr. Ojo currently serves as the minister in charge of music and the chairman of the building committee in his local church. He has also organized several contemporary Christian music concerts for his local church. 

Education: 

MSW, School of Social Work, University of Maryland 
B.S., Business Administration, University of Ilorin, Nigeria 
Certificate, Doing Business in Emerging Markets, Harvard Business School Education Program 
Certificate, Supply Chain Management and Operations, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Dr. Ojo’s dissertation was on, Perceptions and Attitudes of Clinicians at a Private Outpatient Mental Health Clinic on Change in Treatment Approach from Individual to Team-Based Delivery 

Dr. Melany Rabideau received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2020 and is a proud native of Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Rabideau taught leadership as an Assistant Professor with a global health university in Rwanda. She views leadership as a skill that can be developed through a lifelong devotion to learning. Her time in Rwanda taught her a lot about leadership and inspired this picture book series making universal leadership lessons inviting to children. 

Education: 

MPH, Public Health in Practice and Policy, University of Maryland, College Park, 2016 
B.A., Public Health Science, University of Maryland, College Park, 2012 

Dr. Rabideu’s dissertation was on An Exploration of the Emerging Adult Woman’s Perceived Value of Primary Care 

Dr. Simarjeet Kaur Sandhu, or Dr. Simi, as she likes to be called, received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2021. As a children’s book author, she recalls as a young child reading books in bookstores, libraries, and classrooms, but that the stories did not include characters that looked like her or that spoke of her cultural or religious background. A lifelong lover of reading and writing, she realized as an adult that she wanted to help young readers have a different experience and so she writes children’s stories to spread awareness, particularly for those of Sikh background. As a child, Dr. Simi experienced a lot of bullying and discrimination, particularly after the 9-11 attacks, by people confusing Sikhs for those related to the Taliban or Osama Bin Laden. In part, this drove her to her journey as an educator of young children, teaching English as a second language, so that she could help build a learning environment that is accepting of people of all backgrounds. 

EDUCATION: 

M.S., Instructional Technology, Towson University, 2015 
M.A., Instructional Systems Development, English as a Second Language, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2007 
B.S., Elementary Education, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 2003 
Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Technology Integration, University of Maryland, University College 
Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Distance Education, University of Maryland, Baltimore County 
Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Instructional Systems Development, University of Maryland, Baltimore County 

Dr. Sandhu’s dissertation was on Support Services Provided to Undergraduate and Graduate English Language Learners: A Content Analysis of 100 Colleges and Universities 

Matt Troutman was involved in various student organizations as an undergraduate at Indiana University Kokomo, making him feel connected to the campus and his peers. Learning of student affairs as a profession, after graduating, he worked in student activities as a programming coordinator for 4 years at his alma mater while taking graduate classes nearby in higher education. Over the past 17 years, Matt has worked in student affairs in five different states at five institutions of higher education, private and public. 

Education

• M.S., Education, Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, Indiana
•  University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana, 2002
• B.A., Social and Behavioral Sciences, Indiana University Kokomo, Indiana, 2000

Dr. Rania Radwan's biography highlights her impressive journey through academia and her professional strides in balancing meaningful work with family life. Rania commenced her academic pursuits with a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology, concentrating on Egyptology—a field demanding meticulous attention to detail and a profound grasp of historical intricacies. Her trajectory took a transformative turn upon relocating to the United States to support her husband's doctoral ambitions, a period that also marked her own pivot into the Management of Information Systems, culminating in a master’s degree.

Advancing to a Senior Business Analyst within government sectors, Rania has demonstrated her versatility and exceptional analytical skills. Her work spans across pivotal areas such as defense and healthcare, where she has effectively devised and polished strategies influencing crucial public service sectors.

The narrative of Rania's life also intimately entwines with her professional path, particularly as a mother of three. This aspect of her life profoundly informs her interest in Work-Life Balance (WLB) research. Rania embodies the principles she investigates—an advanced degree earner and high-profile career professional meticulously juggling the rigors of parenting. Her scholarly exploration of WLB policies gains depth from her lived experience, offering authentic insights into the practicalities of merging an ambitious career with a rewarding domestic life.

Dr. Radwan's dissertation is on, The Impact of COVID-19 on Work-Life Balance Policy Disclosures of the Top Fortune 500 Companies: An Empirical Investigation.