*Republished from the April 2016 issue of The Kayseean
By Cameron Smith & Victoria Franklin
It is no doubt that receiving a doctoral degrees is a great accomplishment that comes with a lot of hard work and determination. Did you know that the first Ph.D. was awarded in Paris in 1150? However, according to TheGradGrind.com, they were officially established as the highest academic degree in 1917 when Oxford University awarded their first one.
To receive a Ph.D., one must first obtain a Bachelor’s Degree (4 years), then a Master’s Degree (2 years), and finally the Ph.D. (4-6 years). One might think that receiving a Ph.D. is not for the faint of heart; however, several professors at King University have been working very hard to finally be awarded their Doctorate. Much like the students at King, 16 professors have either completed or are pursuing their Ph.D.’s within the past few years.
Many professors at King were asked what they struggled with, what inspired them, and what they hoped to accomplish by furthering their education. Janet Percy said the biggest struggle for her was managing her workload and the balance between work, school, and family.
Dr. Penelope Neal is a pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Associate Professor at the King University School of Nursing-Knoxville Campus. She said she was inspired to get her Doctorate by witnessing other colleagues participate in research and leadership positions, but it did not come without its challenges.
“The biggest struggle was life balance,” said Neal, “I have three young children and remain in clinical practice as well.’ Not only that, but her study took place in Winston Salem, and she had to drive four hours each time she did data collection. Tammy Harosky and Kim Holloway also mentioned similar struggles, and how finding the time and energy to work towards their degree was sometimes a challenge.
Many professors have worked towards their Ph.D. so they could truly follow their passion. Dr. Jennifer Mongold is the Program Coordinator of Criminal Justice, Assistant Professor, and Associate Dean in the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences at King University. She received her Ph.D. in Public Safety Leadership, Criminal Justice Specialization. Mongold says that her degree has helped her find the career she had always wanted, “now I would like to help students find their passions and to help those struggling with the justice system as well.”
Holloway said, “I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. so that I could be a more knowledgeable and better-prepared composition teacher.”
Logan Love said she chose to continue her education to “enhance my knowledge in the classroom and help facilitate change in certain communities.”
For the majority, it came down to wanting to share their passion with others, in and outside the classroom.
The following is a list of professors at King who have completed their Ph.D. or are still working hard to get it.
These professors have completed their degrees:
- Dr. Stacey Rorie (D.N.P.)
- Dr. Jennifer Mongold (Ph.D.)
- Dr. Becky Thomas (Ph.D.)
- Dr. Penny Neal (Ph.D.)
- Dr. Anita Black (Ph.D.)
- Dr. Scott Landis (Ph.D.)
These professors are candidates for their degrees:
- Brandon Story (Candidate for Ph.D.)
- Cody Boring (Candidate for A.B.D.)
- Janet Percy (Candidate for D.B.A.)
- Tammy Harosky (Candidate for Ed.D.)
- Kim Holloway (Candidate for A.B.D.)
- Sheri McRae (Candidate for D.N.P.)
- Logan Gillen Love (Candidate for Ph.D.)
- Jodi Helbert (Candidate for Ph.D.)
- Nick Edwards (Candidate for Ed.D.)
- Robin Foreman (Candidate for A.V.D.)
All of these professors are working to not only better themselves but also better King. Their positive ambition speaks to prospective students and the greater community. And as lifelong learners, they serve as wonderful role models for current students.
