University of Maryland University College honored 27 Doctor of Management candidates and conferred their degrees during the 2017 doctoral commencement ceremony at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center on Thursday evening May 11. It was the overture to a Mother’s Day weekend of ceremonies at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland, honoring the university’s associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates.

Those earning the doctorate had completed their academic requirements in the summer or fall of 2016, and this spring.  They now join UMUC’s doctoral alumni group of more than 400 graduates with a wealth of opportunities to assist current and future post-graduate students in their quest to earn a doctorate, said Bryan Booth, collegiate professor and vice dean, The Graduate School, during the ceremony’s opening remarks.

“For those of us who work in the doctoral program, this is our favorite day of the year,” Booth told graduates. “I would think it is a pretty good day for you, too!”

UMUC introduced its scholar-practitioner based Doctor of Management program in 2000 and Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration in 2009. Both are designed for experienced professionals who work full-time and want to advance their scholarship and practical learning.

The newfound knowledge and skills acquired in the pursuit of a UMUC Doctor of Management degree—the transformation to scholar-practitioner—carries with it certain responsibilities, Booth told graduates. They include, “thinking critically before acting, reflecting on circumstances, understanding the context of your situations, and knowing when ‘enough evidence is enough,’” Booth said.

For student speaker David Scott Phillips ’16, who described himself as someone who “just likes thinking about stuff,” the scholar-practitioner “duality” is a guide to the positive contributions that he and fellow graduates can make as they progress in their careers.

By example, Phillips, who is a subject-matter expert with 30 years’ experience in the clean air industry, said that he can use his new-honed critical thinking skills in his commercial product management role to focus on the “most important” issues.

“If I read what the newest thinkers are learning and presenting in peer-reviewed journals and figure out how to apply [that] to the global marketing of my product …  that would be pretty cool, and I would be fulfilling that scholar-practitioner role,” Phillips said.

In his charge to doctoral graduates, UMUC President Javier Miyares noted: “Many of you already hold leadership roles in business, government, or higher education—and your influence will only increase.”  He urged them to use their education, experience, creativity, vision and influence to set a positive example.

“Lead with honesty, integrity, and care. Respect the dignity of those you lead. Weigh carefully the impact of your actions. And honor the dream of future generations to be part of a world marked by peace and prosperity,” Miyares said.

Phillips is confident that by using their analytical skills and “practitioner's hearts,” he and his fellow UMUC doctoral graduates can harness market forces for the good. “It’s a big world out there. Maybe people like us can make it a little better,” he said.

DOCTOR OF MANAGEMENT GRADUATES 2016–2017

Summer 2016: Gary Batson ∙ Ingrid Denise Fray ∙ John Haley ∙ Wendy Patriquin ∙ Dianne Piper ∙ Michael Simms

FALL 2016: Rosette Burakari Adera ∙ Lenaire Ahlum ∙ Teresa Howard Carter ∙ Francisca Chukwura  ∙ Kaisa Holloway Cripps ∙ Kelemsis Gedlu ∙ Brinkley Hypes ∙ Thomas R. Mauro ∙ Denise Nadasen ∙ Buenaventura O. Ontuca ∙ Claudia Owens ∙ David Scott Phillips ∙ Edward Priola ∙ Dawn Turner

SPRING 2017:  Rebecca Bolton ∙ Angela West Davis ∙ LaReta Antrell Davis ∙ Trienne Glover ∙ Christopher K. Jones LaFondra N. Lynch ∙ Charles McGarvey