Cohort 1 Doctoral Bios

Dr. Preetha Anna Abraham received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership in 2019. Dr. Abraham serves as Research Director and Scientific Advisor to research project management at the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP), a Defense Center of Excellence, at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland. She also serves as the Psychological Education Contributor for the Human Performance Resource Center, an online resource to help Warfighters and their families to achieve total fitness and optimal performance. Preetha received her Master of Arts Degree in Applied Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology from University of Kerala, India in 1999.  

Preetha joined USU in 2004 and has since served in research management, student/staff scientific mentorship and personnel supervisory roles within the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Military and Emergency Medicine. In addition to clinical human studies, she has a deep understanding ranging from psychometric tools, quantitative psychological assessments and qualitative research skills to bench science biological techniques. She is the primary author and co-author on several publication emerging from CHAMP and has presented at many distinguished scientific conferences. Her research involvement at CHAMP has been primarily on holistic health and adjunctive modalities of therapeutic interventions that mitigate stress and enrich physical, mental and spiritual well-being. 

Education:  

M.A., Applied Psychology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India, 1999 
B.A., Psychology, Economics and Sociology, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore University, India, 1997 
 
Dr. Abraham’s dissertation is on The Mediating Role of Organizational Climate in the Relationship between Leadership Outcomes and Organizational Strategic Planning 

Dr. Michele Baisey received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2019. She is the proud principal of Thurmont Primary School in Frederick County where they show their “Courage of a Cougar” in all we do.  Serving the students, families and staff in the school community is both an honor and privilege for Dr. Baisey, especially during an unprecedented time in education. Dr. Baisey is a triple-blazer earning her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, Master's of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, Administrative Leadership Certification and Doctorate in Organizational Leadership -all from Hood College.  She was one of two doctoral students invited to join Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society in addition to also being a member of Kappa Delta Pi.  

Education

• M.S., Curriculum and Instruction, Hood College, 2002
• B.A. (cum laude), Early Childhood Education, Hood College, 1998 

Dr. Baisey’s dissertation is on The Impact of Participation in an Elementary Behavior Support Program on Students' Prosocial Behavior, School Functioning and Academic Performance. 

6th Grade Team Leader, 6th Grade English, 8th Grade Reading, Boys Soccer Coach, Sligo Middle School, Silver Spring, Maryland

• 2012–Present 6th Grade Team Leader/English 6/Reading 8, Sligo Middle School, Silver Spring, Maryland
• 2011–2012 Reading 6/7/8, Ridgeview Middle School, Gaithersburg, Maryland
• 2009–2011 Reading Content Specialist, Argyle Middle School, Silver Spring, Maryland
• 1998–2009 Reading Specialist, Argyle Middle School, Silver Spring, Maryland
• 1997–1998 5th Grade Team Leader/Grade 5, Garnet-Patterson Middle School, Washington, DC
• 1987–1997 Grade 2/3/5, Harrison Elementary School, Washington, DC
• 1983–2003 United States Army 99th Reserve Support Command, Oakdale, Pennsylvania
   

Education

• M.S., Educational Leadership, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, 2013
• B.S., Elementary Education, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, 1987
• B.S., Consumer Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1983

Dr. Linda Chambers received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2019. She is employed as the Director of Special Education for Frederick County Public Schools. Dr. Chambers has been an adjunct graduate professor in the educational leadership program here at Hood for the past 7 years, building capacity in future education leaders to meet the needs of our diverse society.  She presented her research in dismantling the preschool to prison pipeline for African American students at the 2018 Council for Special Education Administrators in Biloxi, Mississippi.  She was the People’s Choice Award winner in the Hood 2019 3MT competition and was the first ever recipient of the Dr. Manuel and Carmen Casiano Outstanding Dissertation Award from Hood. 

Education:  

M.A., Educational Leadership, Hood College, 2008  
M.A., Special Education, James Madison University, 1996 

Dr. Chambers’ dissertation is on Disproportionate Suspension and Special Education Identification of African American Students: A Case Study in the Early Elementary Grades 

Dr. DeVeda Coley received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2020. She has served as an educator for Frederick County Public Schools for the past 28 years, 20 of those years in school administration. She has had the pleasure of working with students and staff in five different schools in the county. She currently is the proud principal of Spring Ridge Elementary School in Frederick County Maryland. 

While working on her DOL at Hood College, DeVeda presented at local, state and national conferences including the National Title 1, ESSA conference in Philadelphia, and the Critical Questions in Education Symposium. She was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi last year. 

Education 

• M.S., Educational Leadership, Hood College, 2001 
• B.S., Elementary Education, Mount Saint Mary’s College, 1993 

Dr. Coley’s dissertation is on A Missing Factor in Addressing Disproportionate Discipline: Job-Embedded Professional Development in Restorative Practices for “First Responders”. 

Strategic Account Manager, 3M Healthcare Business Group, Government Operations

In 1994, Richard was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Medical Service Corps. Over the course of his 20-year military career, he served in multiple command and staff positions including:

Director of Materiel Fielding, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, Fort Detrick, Maryland 
Rear Detachment Commander, Executive Officer, and Task Force Director of Logistics, 10th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Carson, Colorado; and Baghdad, Iraq
Director of Supply Chain Management, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC
Detachment Commander, Chief of Warehousing Operations, and Chief of Inventory Management, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center, Europe, Pirmasens, Germany

In 2014, Richard joined the 3M Healthcare Business Group (HCBG) taking on responsibility for support to the Department of Defense. He is responsible for developing business strategies to support a complex and multifaceted DOD market for the 3M HCBG Government Operations team.

Education

• M.H.A., Healthcare Administration, Baylor University
• B.A., Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration, Ohio University

Dr. Peggy Dufour received her Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in 2020 and was the recipient of the Hood College Doctoral Faculty Outstanding Student Award in 2020.  

Dr. Peggy Dufour’s professional experience includes work in the for-profit, not-for-profit, and government sectors. From 1987 to 1993, Peggy served in senior leadership roles on two presidential commissions; at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she created the National Science Bowl; and in the White House Office of Science, where she led a 17-agency committee overseeing $2 billion in mathematics and science education funding. Following government service, Peggy started a proposal development consulting firm and later joined Bechtel National, Inc., where she managed proposal centers winning $17 billion in government work.  

Earlier, Peggy worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center supporting leukemia/lymphoma research. This work led to her role as senior policy analyst on the first Presidential Commission on the HIV Epidemic, where she wrote the Interim Report to the President and final report chapters on HIV research and treatment.  

A classically trained musician, Peggy earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University and taught music history to Columbia and Barnard undergraduates. She also served as Director of Marketing at New York’s Symphony Space and produced concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall  

After receiving her doctorate from Hood College in 2002, Peggy presented her dissertation findings with Dr. Anita Jose at Southwest Academy of Management and Society for Advancement of Management conferences, and individually to the Association of Proposal Management Professionals. In 2023, she joined Hood’s doctoral program as an adjunct faculty member, supporting Dr. Jennifer Cuddapah in teaching LEAD 630. 

Education

Dr. Dufour’s dissertation was on Organizational Justice in the Proposal Development Industry: The Influence of Gender, Nationality, and Training on Business Ethics Perceptions and Job Satisfaction. 

Senior Contracting Officer, National Cancer Institute

Quality Control Technician for Diagnostic Test Kits at BioWhittaker, Inc. During my time with BioWhittaker, Inc., the company manufactured Complement Fixation, ELISA and FIAX test kits to diagnose immunoglobulin (IgG/IgM) levels in serum for certain viruses, i.e., measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox). I moved from there into Technical Services where I became a trainer and troubleshooter for issues that customers were having with the products.

Valley Graphic Service, Inc. Customer Services Manager. It was during my time here that I gained experience in preparing bids for state and federal government opportunities, thus my introduction to contracting.

In 2009, I was hired by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Office of Acquisitions and my federal contracting career began. I started in the Simplified Acquisitions Branch (not knowing any different) and have found a perfect training ground. I like the diversity each requirement brings. Questions we ask include, “How is this best purchased,” “Which mechanism would be best for the purchase?” and “Is a justification for sole source valid?”

I moved from the Simplified Acquisitions Branch to the Management and Operation Support Branch in October of 2015. This acquisitions office administers the contract for the government-owned contractor-operated (GOCO) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). The FFRDC provides rapid response capabilities and one-of-a-kind resources for the biomedical research community within NCI, NIH and other federal agencies. Located in Frederick, Md., the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) is NCI’s FFRDC. The FNLCR is a GOCO research facility with a unique array of research support and advanced technologies, whose purpose is to bridge the gaps from discovery to healthcare delivery; to accelerate the development of new technologies and prototype treatments for patients; and to pave the way for new advances to enter clinical trials for testing, approval, and delivery to patients via the commercial sector. The FNLCR provides a unique biomedical resource for the development of new technologies and the translation of basic science discoveries into novel agents for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, AIDS, and other diseases.

Dr. Lura Hanks received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL)  in 2019. She is currently the superintendent of the Greencastle-Antrim School District. Dr. Hanks began her teaching career in 1998 as an elementary teacher in Frederick County, Maryland.  She has served as a teacher specialist, assistant principal, principal, and previously Supervisor of English Language Arts and Social Studies for Washington County Public Schools.  Dr. Hanks has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Hood College. Dr. Hanks has presented at local, state, and national conferences on topics of literacy education and teacher professional development.  She has authored and contributed to a variety of articles including the 2019 released book by Doug Fisher titled This Is Balanced Literacy and in 2022, 5 Key Elements to Successful Curriculum Design.   In October of 2019, Dr. Hanks presented at the International Literacy Association conference on improving literacy instruction through talent management professional development. While she grew up in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, Greencastle has been her home for 19 years where she lives with her husband and two children.  Dr. Hanks currently serves on the board of directors for the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce and the Greencastle-Antrim Education Foundation and is on the PARSS board of directors (Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools) 

Education: 

M.S., Educational Leadership, Hood College, 2003 
B.A., Early Childhood Education, Hood College, 1998 

Dr. Hanks’ dissertation is on Improving Teacher Effectiveness for Increasing Student Reading Proficiency through a Talent Management Professional Development Model 

Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) Trainer and Specialist, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development

2016–present Member, Ethics Commission, City of Frederick, Maryland

2014–present Adjunct Professor, Towson University, Computer and Information Sciences Department

2012–present United States Army Reserve (USAR) Officer, Military Police

2006–2012 Business Development Manager of That Dam Thing, Inc.

2005–present Towson University “The Associate” Alumni, Advisor and Student Mentor

2000–2005 Chief Financial Officer, Brothers and Sisters United (BASU) (501(c)(3))

Education

• M.A., Business and Organizational Security Management, Webster University
• B.S., Computer Information Sciences / Business Administration, Towson University 
• B.A., Spanish Literature, Towson University

Human Resource Director, WLR Automotive Group, Inc., Frederick, Maryland

Early in John’s career, he worked for Aramark in Leesburg, Virginia. While working a line level food service position, John developed a training program as part of a college project. After the completion of the project, the company decided to adopt the training program for the location.

In 1992, John began working for Hospitality Partners, a Washington, DC–based hotel company, and continued with them for nearly 10 years. During his employment, John worked mostly in human resources, but also held leadership positions in marketing, food and beverage (F&B), and operations. While in marketing, John made a presentation at the American Hotel and Lodging Association conference in San Francisco. John was seen as an effective change manager and was frequently asked to handle unique projects. For example, John led one hotel’s F&B department during an important employee and menu transition, and then led a comprehensive renovation project for a large Georgetown hotel.

John began working for Gap Inc. in 2002, handling human resources, merchandising, and stockroom management responsibilities. Additionally, he was selected to participate in a project to streamline stock intake. As a result of the project’s success, John was designated as a district trainer for the purpose of implementing his improved stock management strategies.

In 2005, John began working at Charles Town Races & Slots (now Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races), where he oversaw the hiring of more than 800 new associates for the implementation of table games. Additionally, John participated in a number of other projects, including rolling out new human resource technology for the company’s employees.

In 2010, John began work for his current employer, WLR Automotive Group, Inc. As the Human Resources Director, John plays a crucial role in increasing human resource technology, developing corporate and company culture, improving employee retention and engagement, and managing numerous projects. John was instrumental in developing the company’s current leadership structure. In 2015, WLR Automotive Group was recognized with the Diversity and Inclusion Award for its company culture and inclusive employee programs.

Education

• MBA, Business Administration, Shepherd University, 2009
• B.A., Liberal Arts, Shepherd University, 2006

Dr. Eric Louérs-Phillips received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2019. He is the Associate Superintendent of Public Affairs for Frederick County Public Schools. He started working with FCPS in 2004 and was appointed to this position in August 2021. Eric oversees the Department of Public Affairs. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Morgan State University in Baltimore. Eric also holds two master’s degrees from the University of Phoenix, one in Curriculum and Instruction (Specializing in Adult Education), the other in Administration and Supervision. He earned a Doctor of Organizational Leadership from Hood College. In addition to his current position, Eric serves as an adjunct professor in Hood College’s Department of Education. 

Education: 

M.A., Administration and Supervision, University of Phoenix, 2010 
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, Specializing in Adult Education, University of Phoenix, 2009 
B.S., Elementary Education, Morgan State University, 1998 
Participant, Opening Doors Research Institute, Ohio State University, 1998 

Dr. Louérs-Phillip’s dissertation is on Leadership Style, Leader–Follower Congruence, & the Implementation of a Cultural Proficiency Initiative 

Dr. Danny Rumpf received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2019. He is currently the principal at The Heather Ridge School in Frederick County, Maryland. Since completing his DOL at Hood, many doors to enhance his practice have opened. He can better mentor administrative candidates, serve on dissertation and advisory committees, be a reviewer for the American Education Research Association (AERA) conference, and use his knowledge gained through the program to better serve the two non-profit boards he serves on. 
 
Dr. Rumpf discovered that the skills learned through the DOL program were used the most when school systems shut down and transitioned to virtual learning during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis impacted the operation of schools and educational programs. The skills taught in the program were used to ensure that his colleagues prioritized the health and safety of the students and staff as they reopened the school. Skills focused on how to ensure proper communication, consider all points of view, and continue to be a servant leader. 

Education: 

M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, Shepherd University, 2007 
B.A., Secondary Education, Shepherd University, 2004 

Dr. Rumpf’s dissertation was on Principals' Perceptions on Their Experience of the Framework for Teaching Professional Development 

Dr. Jonathan Spaans received his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in 2019. Dr. Spaans has a 20 plus-year career in vaccine and biotherapeutics development and manufacturing. During this time, Jonathan developed, tested, and manufactured several successful small molecule and vaccine candidates and managed quality organizations responsible for compliance to several regulatory agencies. He developed and managed quality management systems ranging from product disposition, supplier qualification, equipment qualification, deviation management, and document management. He also built and led departments in change management and commissioning, including business expansion. 

Education: 

M.B.A., Business Administration, Hood College, 2001 
B.S., Biology, Arizona State University, 1994 

Dr. Spaans’ dissertation was on Roles of Knowledge Diffusion, Emotional Intelligence, and Locus of Control in Facilitating Incremental Innovation Among Middle Managers: An Empirical Investigation 

Dr. Katherine Swire received her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2020. Dr. Swire's 40-year education career with Frederick County Public Schools began in 1983. After graduating from Hood College summa cum laude with a degree in special education, Kathy became a teacher at Rock Creek School. In 1993, Kathy was awarded her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Hood and moved to a second-grade classroom at Spring Ridge Elementary. In 1998, Kathy became a science and math teacher specialist for FCPS, teaching teachers best practices in both content areas. After completing her certificate in Educational Leadership from Hood, Kathy became an administrator in 2013 and continued her career in administration through to the end of 2022. During this time, she joined the inaugural doctoral cohort at Hood and graduated in 2020. Kathy is currently retired from FCPS and enjoying her grandchildren while teaching part-time at the college level, supervising interns who are heading into their new career as a teacher. She also volunteers with Girl Scouts. Kathy and her husband are traveling and participating in local 5k races. 

Education: 

M.A., Early Childhood Education, Hood College, 1993 
B.A. (summa cum laude), Special Education, Hood College, 1983 

Dr. Swire’s dissertation was on An Exploration of Mathematical Mindset of Female Novice Early Childhood Teachers 

Dr. Joshua Work received his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership (DOL) in 2019. He is currently a middle school assistant principal with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS).  

While attending Hood College to complete his B.A. in History, Josh Work enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. After completing military occupational specialty schools, Josh returned to Hood College to complete his degree. Following graduation, he was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this time, Josh was a vehicle commander for a light armored vehicle mortar variant. He also served in several other billets in his reserve unit, including mortar section leader and weapons platoon sergeant. Upon returning from Afghanistan, Josh was employed as a middle school history teacher by FCPS. He had the opportunity to contribute as a pilot teacher for the FCPS Bring-Your-Own-Device and Technology Now! initiatives. Josh has served in several positions for FCPS, including a special education instructional aide, media specialist, technology coordinator, classroom teacher, and now assistant principal. 

Education: 

M.S., Educational Leadership, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, 2015 
B.A., History, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, 2009 

Dr. Work’s dissertation is on Principals' Perceptions of School Climate Surveys and How They Influence Their Practice