The 2022 Dissertation of the Year Winners

The 2022 Dissertation of the Year

We are pleased to announce the winners and nominations of our Dissertation of the Year Award for 2022. This award program has been developed to recognize excellence in dissertation work among our doctoral students. At the University of Phoenix, Doctoral students who have passed their dissertation defense within the last year and were nominated by their chairs were considered for this award. For 2022 we had a total of 15 high-quality nominations in five programs, Doctor of Management, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Health Administration, Ph.D. Nursing, and Doctor of Business Administration.

A double-blind peer-reviewed process was used to evaluate the nominations. Each nomination has been reviewed by at least two reviewers. In the case of a tie score, a third reviewer evaluated the nominated dissertation. As a result of applying the process, four winners were identified. However, all other nominated dissertations indicated the high-quality work of our students and faculty members. All nominations will be recognized at the annual Knowledge Without Boundaries (KWB) Research Summit. The winners will receive a certificate commemorating their hard work and will be invited to present their research at KWB Research Summit.

Congratulations to all the winners as well as the nominated students.

The Dissertation of the Year Award Program is supervised by Dr. Mansureh Kebritchi. For the next year’s nomination please visit this site. For questions, please contact Mansureh.kebritchi@phoenix.edu

Doctor of Management (DM)

• The Winner - Dissertation Title: COACHING-STYLE LEADERSHIP’S ROLE IN THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN MECHANISTICALLY STRUCTURED ORGANIZATIONS:  A NARRATIVE INQUIRY STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Sai Raghav
  • Chair: Dr. John Sienrukos
  • Committee members: Dr. Mark McCaslin, Dr. Marcia Hill
• Nominated Dissertation Title: WOMEN ATTAINING SENIOR EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN THE JAMAICAN BANKING INDUSTRY:  A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATORY CASE STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Karrian Hepburn
  • Chair: Dr. John Sienrukos
• Nominated Dissertation Title: EXAMINING LEADERSHIP STYLES OF A HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION: A QUANTITATIVE CORRELATIONAL STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Sheila Goldman
  • URM: Dr. Julie M. Ballaro 

• Nominated Dissertation Title Investigative Leadership Styles and Emotional Intelligence of Leadership in Labor Unions: A Quantitative Correlational Study
  • Student: Dr. Jenice Simmons
  • Chair: Dr. Sandra Jenkins
• Nominated Dissertation Title: EXAMINING THE TENANT SCREENING AND SELECTION PROCESS IN THE RENTAL MARKET THROUGH CYBERVETTING: A QUANTITATIVE DELPHI
  • Student: Dr. Tiffany Brooks
  • Chair:  Dr. Susan Ferebee
• Nominated Dissertation Title: Investigating Leadership and Human-Intelligences During Public-Sector Organizational Change: A Mixed Methods Study
  • Student: Dr. Joanne Principe 
  • Chair: Dr. James Rice
• Nominated Dissertation Title: Job Satisfaction of the Physically Disabled: A Matter of ADA Compliance - Qualitative Phenomenological Study
  • Student: Dr. Constance L. Manion 
  • Chair: Dr. Kelley Conrad

Doctoral Degree in Education  

• The Winner - Dissertation Title: EXPERIENCES MANAGING CHANGE IN POSTSECONDARY THEATRE ARTS CURRICULA: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY STUDY IN LEADERSHIP
  • Student: Dr. Lyn Shela Heck
  • Chair: Dr. Robert F Amason, JR
  • Committee members: Dr. Mary W. Stout, Dr. Regina Fletcher Sadono
• Nominated Dissertation Title: PERCEPTIONS OF THE STRATEGIES FOR CURBING EXAMINATION CHEATING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Zipporah Nyangwechi 
  • Chair: Dr. Patricia Akojie
• Nominated Dissertation Title: INFORMATION LITERACY AND COLLEGE STUDENT RETENTION: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Brandette R. Morse 
  • Chair: Dr. Mary W. "Mimi" Stout

Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)

• The Winner - Dissertation Title: A QUALITATIVE MULTI-CASE STUDY OF NURSES’ PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES WITH POINT OF USE SUPPLY AUTOMATION
  • Student: Dr. Lee Ann Wright Smith
  • Chair: Dr. Cheryl Anderson
  • Committee members: Dr. Rebecca Back-Little, Dr.James Connelly
• Nominated Dissertation Title: THE INTRAPERSONAL CONFLICTS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN   SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:  A QUALITATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Rayshawn Harris 
  • Chair: Dr. Charles H. Elliott

Ph.D. Nursing

• The Winner - Dissertation Title: THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF NEW GRADUATE NURSES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Frank Druse
  • Chair: Dr. Anne Brett
  • Committee members: Dr. Susan Steele-Moses, Dr. Charlene Romer
• Nominated Dissertation Title: LIVED EXPERIENCE OF AN ICU NURSE CARING FOR A COVID-19 PATIENT: A HERMENEUTIC PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY
  • Student: Dr. Gloria Littlemouse
  • Chair: Dr. Patricia Finch-Guthrie

Doctor of Business Administration

• Nominated Dissertation Title: Cybercrime Techniques and Detroit Automotive Technology Managers Productivity: A Quantitative Correlational Study
  • Student: Dr. Adewale Aibana
  • Chair: Dr. Janice Cardwell