Area of Study
Management with a focus on Organizational Behavior
What made you choose the University of Mississippi’s doctoral program?
I really enjoyed meeting a couple of doctoral students in the Management program at an academic conference while I was completing my MBA at East Carolina University. This experience gave me a realistic job preview of the profession and the type of people I would be sharing the program with. Thus, given my preference for people and the value I place in everyday interactions, I prioritized applying to the program at the University of Mississippi.
How or why did you choose your area of focus?
One of my MBA professors opened my eyes to how social science can help us better the lives of people at work and how education can disseminate such knowledge to future generations, thereby being a potent vehicle for making the world a better place. Her confidence in my ability to contribute to this goal through academia was a key factor in my decision to pursue a path in Management.
Is there a professor who has been a mentor to you?
More than I could probably mention here. However, Drs. Amy McMillan, Laura Madden, Tim Madden, Kristin Cullen-Lester, Dorothy Carter, and Meredith Woehler have certainly shaped the scholar that I am today. I am deeply grateful for their mentorship and guidance.
What has been one of your most memorable moments at UM?
Academically, I’ll always remember the challenge it represented to go through seminar coursework in my first and second semesters. Personally, UM and Oxford will hold a special place in my memory because it is where I met my life partner.
Do you have any advice for people considering the Ph.D. program?
Know your “why” and reach out to people who can provide a realistic preview of what a doctoral program entails before you commit to pursuing a Ph.D.