The first cohort of the doctorate in organizational leadership program at Stockton University received their degrees at the Atlantic City Boardwalk campus, Tuesday, May 7.
ATLANTIC CITY The first class of Stockton University's new doctoral degree program in organizational leadership received degrees at a commencement ceremony held Tuesday, May 7 at the university's Boardwalk campus.
Stockton launched the doctoral degree in organizational leadership program in 2016. The first cohort included 21 students.
The graduates are Tina Bridda, Daniel Douglas, John Froonjian Jr., Karl Giulian, Robert Heinrich, Paul Herron, Jeannine Ingenito, Kate Juliani, Walter Kappeler, Brian McBride, Kathleen McDonald, Nicole Nelson, Warren Nelson, Dana Palma, William Perkins, Charlotte Phillip-Clarke, Charles Powell V, Sharon Remeter, Kathryn Suk, Daniel Tomé and Kristina War.
This degree took six years to put together, said George Sharp, a coordinating faculty member from the School of Education. The goal was to create an educational leadership doctoral degree that was different, unique and stuck with Stockton's mantra of distinctive' education. We wanted to create a degree that put leaders of all types government, health care, faith-based, and so on in a room together in communicative situations to emphasize the importance of having strong leadership and communication skills.
Stockton started the program to help working professionals improve their leadership skills. The interdisciplinary program included taking classes online, in the evening and on Saturdays at the Atlantic City Academic Center.
Jerry Nelson, who works in the technology field and his wife Nicole, a Hamilton Township police officer, found the doctoral program to be a perfect fit.
(Jerry and I) both have different strengths and weaknesses and knew that we would need each other to effectively get through a program at this level, Nicole Nelson said. The interdisciplinary aspect of (Stockton's) program gave us that opportunity, and it's exciting to think that even though we work in two completely different fields, we were able to work in the same doctorate program.
Throughout the program, we each had our ups and downs, but together, we balanced each other out, Jerry Nelson said. We would always compete on who would get the better grade or turn in their project first, but in the end, the only way I was able to complete this was with her help. She pushed me the last mile, motivating me to make the milestones and propped me up at the finish line.
William Perkins, superintendent of NJ Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing Headquarters Staff, was the very first applicant to gain admission.
The program had been dubbed by its designers and developers as a development program within a doctoral program,' and I believe that to be very accurate, he said. I didn't just broaden my leadership competencies via learning, as I would have with any other educational programs. This program cultivated a mindset of vertical development, meaning it enhanced my habits, mindsets and capacities to optimize those competencies.
Atlantic Cape Community College Professor Karl Guilian said he gained friendships as well as improved his organizational skills.
The program helped me to enhance my way of thinking about people, as well as about my various organizations, he said. The classwork, competencies and dissertation have taught me to better understand myself so that I can be better prepared to be a leader. I now feel much more confident and motivated to be a change agent, as I now have the knowledge and credential to be successful. As a member of Cohort One, I have met a group of people [to which] I truly feel a deep and emotional connection. I will forever have their friendships, which is a reward in itself.
Applications for the next cohort of the organizational leadership doctoral program are due May 17. Learn more at stockton.edu/graduate.
Reported by Kat Wentzell
