For Immediate Release
[Bethany, Oklahoma] - Southern Nazarene University (SNU) has something to celebrate this spring. Its Doctorate of Education Administration and Leadership (DEAL) program saw its 100th dissertation defense. This is a notable achievement for the doctoral program, which is only in its fifth year. SNU is proud to find itself among the list of colleges and universities offering advanced degrees in educational leadership.
In April doctoral candidate Thomas (Tom) Duncan commendably defended his dissertation at SNU's Tulsa Campus. His study is titled, Caregiver Involvement in Education in a Rural Oklahoma Community: A Case Study. Tom has a Bachelor's degree in Communications and earned his Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from SNU in 2016. He earned his Master's of Public Administration from another university in 2019 before returning to SNU pursue his doctorate.
Dr. Stephoni Case, DEAL Program Director, commented on this momentous occasion saying, "“The 100th graduate - the idea is amazing to me! I am thankful for every student who has chosen SNU to accomplish their academic goals." The doctoral program is part of SNU's Professional and Graduate Studies (PGS), and offers its only doctoral degree, a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D).
An Ed.D is unique in that it takes a more social scientific approach to assessing and improving upon the challenges faced by organizations. The DEAL program is 32 weeks long, and features an embedded dissertation model. With embedded dissertation, students pair with a dissertation chair from their first class. These chairs serve as mentors throughout the duration of the program, during which students learn and work on their dissertations at the same time.
PGS students are often adult learners with full-time jobs and families. Many choose SNU for the flexibility to pursue a doctoral degree online or one evening a week on campus. DEAL graduates work in multiple professional fields. These include higher education faculty, state and district-level education administration, government administration, and various private sector roles.
Tom worked for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for 29 years. Currently employed by Ensemble Health Partners, Tom is also an adjunct instructor at SNU. He is pictured above with his dissertation chair, Dr. Pam Broyles. Tom is her last doctoral student, as she celebrates retirement at the end of the semester.
Please join us in congratulating Tom Duncan on the successful defense of his dissertation and Dr. Broyles on her retirement. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and pray for God's blessing as you continue to seek Him.
About Southern Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene University is a private Christian university located in Bethany, Oklahoma. Committed to a values-driven education, SNU offers students an environment where they can develop academically, spiritually, and socially. With a history of academic excellence, SNU continues to prepare students to become impactful leaders through its rigorous programs and close-knit community. For more information, please contact pgsadmissions@mail.snu.edu.