5 Signs You鈥檙e Ready for a Doctor of Business Administration

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

For professionals who have spent years climbing the corporate ladder, reaching the top feels great. But as they say, it鈥檚 lonely at the top. Your hard-won success means that you have the benefit of influence and experience, but that lofty vantage point can also give you a wider perspective on horizons you have yet to reach and leave you wondering what鈥檚 next.

If your curiosity, hunger for challenge, and drive to evolve go beyond career ambition, they may be signs that you鈥檙e ready for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program.

Who Is a DBA For?

A DBA is an experiential doctoral program that鈥檚 typically designed for senior leaders with years of experience managing people or projects. Different from a traditional PhD program in business, it鈥檚 ideal for a professional who wants to:

  • Deepen their business expertise
  • Apply research to real challenges
  • Move into higher-level leadership
  • Transition to consulting or academic roles
  • Establish themself as a thought leader in their field听

5 Signs You Should Earn a DBA

Whether you鈥檝e been feeling the need for career acceleration, a professional pivot, or a completely new endeavor, if you identify yourself in any of these five signs, earning your Doctor of Business Administration could be your next step forward.

1. You鈥檝e Reached a Career Plateau

You know that 鈥減lateau feeling鈥�: You鈥檝e mastered your current role, your salary has leveled off, and you鈥檝e reached the limit of your organization鈥檚 promotional opportunities.

Earning a DBA can help you break through. Unlike PhD programs, which focus on preparing graduates for full-time academic research, a DBA is a professional, practice-oriented doctorate. It equips you with tools for broader organizational influence and allows you to achieve advanced levels of leadership and confidently assert your authority in high-level decision-making.

2. You Want to Be a Creator of Business Knowledge, Not Just a Consumer

Most professionals rely on established business case studies, frameworks, and best practices to guide their decisions. But after years in the field, it鈥檚 likely you鈥檝e started to notice gaps between anecdote and actual practice.

The scholar-practitioner training you gain by earning a and empowers you to develop evidence-based theories and execute on your findings in ways that make an impact unique to your goals.

3. You鈥檙e Interested in Teaching, Consulting, or Thought Leadership

If you鈥檝e reached a stage in your career where you want to use your expertise outside of the traditional corporate structure, a DBA gives you the credibility to position yourself as an expert thinker, consultant, or teacher.

Consulting firms value the advanced problem-solving that doctoral graduates bring to complex organizational issues. And for professionals interested in teaching, a DBA also provides a pathway into higher education, particularly for institutions seeking business faculty who can pair doctoral credentials with substantial professional experience.

4. You Feel Like Your Career Options Are Limited

The paradox of being highly experienced in your field is that you can start to feel confined to a specific niche, industry, or functional area.

The DBA experience broadens your professional identity, and earning your doctorate signals that you not only possess advanced analytical and critical-thinking capabilities, as well as leadership acumen, but also can apply them in practice to any organizational challenge.

5. You鈥檝e Been Thinking About Your Legacy

It鈥檚 common for long-term career goals to shift from 鈥淲hat can I achieve?鈥� to 鈥淲hat can I leave behind?鈥�

If you鈥檙e motivated to make a lasting mark on your industry, mentor the next generation of business leaders, or cement your reputation as an expert, a DBA provides the platform to start building your legacy. Through original applied research, you鈥檒l have the opportunity to address challenges and develop strategic frameworks that reflect your expertise and leadership.

How to Get Started at Excelsior

Are you starting to recognize the signs that you鈥檙e ready for your DBA? Then 每日大瓜 is ready to help you get started.

The benefits of Excelsior鈥檚 DBA program include a collaborative, mentorship-driven format that blends online learning with two in-person residencies that take academic theory out of the classroom and into your lived experience, empowering you to turn your big ideas into bold changes.

With core coursework in strategy, analytics, and consulting, you鈥檒l be immersed in applied learning experiences that connect research to practice and insight to action. And customizable areas of study ensure you can craft doctoral work that aligns with your career aspirations, with seven concentration options that include:

  • Cybersecurity Operations
  • Data Analytics
  • Enterprise Risk Management
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Healthcare Management
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Strategic Sustainability

Whether your goals lie in executive leadership, academia, or beyond, Excelsior鈥檚 DBA program can help you transform your experience into tools for what鈥檚 next.

What Is Generative AI?

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Generative AI is a technology transforming nearly every field of work. It is a type of artificial intelligence designed to be creative, that is, it can generate text, images, music, video, software code, and graphic designs鈥攈ence the name generative AI. These capabilities make GenAI extremely useful in business while also driving demand for professionals with the computer skills to develop and refine the technology, as well as for those who can effectively use听it.

Although some say generative AI will destroy jobs, forward thinkers see expanding opportunities. Computer scientists with AI expertise in product development, data science, software development, AI training, and AI prompt engineering will find exciting career听prospects.

Traditional AI vs. GenAI

Wondering about the difference between GenAI and AI in the conventional sense? The difference is in the work they can do. What makes generative AI special is its ability to create. Compare it with some other kinds of听AI:

  • uses data to make听forecasts.
  • identifies relationships and produces听insights.
  • Diagnostic AI looks for , problems, and听causes.
  • Machine learning recognizes听patterns.

Although each type of artificial intelligence is useful, businesses value generative AI because it can create entirely new content. It can write a press release, help a customer with a problem, automate software code production, and more. As people become more comfortable and experienced using it, generative AI has emerged as a powerful collaborative tool. GenAI doesn鈥檛 replace someone who creates, but it can expand their capabilities and improve how efficiently they听work.

What Are Popular Uses of GenAI?

Generative AI helps people work faster, do more comprehensive research, automate repetitive or complex tasks, and make better decisions. Some of the ways GenAI is used today听include:

  • Automation: Generative AI can read through and summarize documents and meeting notes, draft letters and emails, organize information, and produce听reports.
  • Interpreting: With this technology, you can take complex write-ups and jargon-heavy text and translate it into material that鈥檚 easier to听understand.
  • Problem-solving: GenAI can help with brainstorming, troubleshooting, and recommending potential听solutions.
  • Software development support: It can improve programmer efficiency by generating blocks of code, debugging software, and speeding up development听cycles.
  • Customer service: AI-powered chatbots can help customers around the clock across a variety of tasks and听issues.
  • Content creation: GenAI can be used to write and edit copy, create and edit images and video, design graphics, and听more.
  • Prototyping and testing: Innovation is faster with the ability to explore options and see how they work across听scenarios.
  • Decision support: GenAI researches topics, organizes notes, analyzes options, and recommends听choices.

What Is Responsible AI?

Responsible AI is concerned with ethical and transparent approaches to designing, developing, and training artificial intelligence applications. The idea is that they should be fair, accountable, and safe. They should not harm people, organizations, or society as a whole. Responsible AI is consistent, accurate, and reliable, reducing misinformation, scams, and dangerous instructions. Privacy and security should be built in. When it comes to applications in the real world, it should prevent accidents and harms in things like self-driving cars, medical devices, robotics, and industrial听systems.

AI should make human oversight and intervention easy and effective. The more AI is used in business, finance, government, health care, and other fields, the more are coming to the听fore.

Start You Career in AI with Excelsior

The AI revolution is just getting started. As industry and businesses increase the scale and scope of how they use it, demand for skilled professionals will grow. Areas of specialization include software development, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and AI systems management. Knowing how to develop, use, and promote responsible AI practices will be invaluable in any tech听career.

A technology degree like 每日大瓜鈥檚 BS in Computer Science opens a vast and growing variety of career paths to you. Our program evolves as fast as technology is evolving so you graduate with the technical and professional skills that are immediately relevant in the workplace. You鈥檒l gain computer science theory with hands-on experience in software development, systems management, data science, networking, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. But you鈥檒l also learn to think critically about ethical and societal issues around computer听technology.

In a future where humans and GenAI work together, Excelsior鈥檚 program gives you a strong foundation for success in the field, with opportunities for career听advancement.

Is a DBA Degree Worth It?

Posted on by Brian Allen

A Doctor of Business Administration is worth it when 鈥渋t鈥� is clearly defined. If 鈥渋t鈥� means a quick credential, a guaranteed promotion, or a title that does the work for you, then a DBA may not be the right path. But if 鈥渋t鈥� means becoming a stronger business decision-maker, developing the research skills to solve real-world problems, and building the credibility to contribute as a subject matter thought leader, then a DBA can be a meaningful next听step.

A DBA is not simply another business degree. A Doctor of Business Administration is a research-based doctoral degree designed for practice-oriented candidates with significant industry experience who want to use rigorous research to address defined business issues. In other words, a DBA sits at the intersection of scholarship and practice: It asks experienced professionals to think more deeply, question more carefully, and act with better听evidence.

Who Can Benefit from a DBA

A DBA can be especially valuable for professionals who have not finished growing. That includes leaders who want to become subject matter thought leaders in their field. Thought leadership requires more than having opinions or experience. It requires the ability to research, synthesize data, evaluate evidence, identify patterns, challenge assumptions, and communicate ideas in a way that helps others make better听decisions.

A DBA benefits business decision-makers who want to strengthen their use of business research methods. Many leaders are surrounded by data pictures that are incomplete or are incomplete in addressing problems. These leaders struggle with situations that are data rich and information poor. This results in not knowing what questions to ask, what evidence to trust, and how to apply findings in a specific organizational context. is built on the idea that managerial decisions should be informed by the best available evidence rather than habit, preference, or hierarchy听alone.

The DBA is a fit for people who understand that being a difference-maker requires effort. is not only about personal traits; it is shaped by ongoing work, organizational context, practice, feedback, and learning over time. A DBA does not replace that work; it deepens听it.

What You Should Consider Before Applying

Before asking whether a DBA degree is worth it, it is better to ask whether it is worth it for the kind of contribution you want to make. The answer of worth comes down to who you want to be at the end of your successful DBA journey. Your vision of the future will dictate motivation and the work that听follows.

Motivation matters when it comes to completing a doctorate. A DBA is a serious commitment, so the strongest reason to pursue one is not simply to add letters after your name. The better reason is that you want to become more capable of solving complex business problems. If you want to connect leadership, strategy, research, and applied decision-making, then the degree aligns well with your听goals.

Most doctoral work requires sustained inquiry, disciplined reading, and applied research. describes research doctorates as degrees oriented toward original intellectual contributions and requiring a dissertation or equivalent project of original work. While a DBA is usually more practice-oriented than a PhD, students should still expect rigorous research听expectations.

Networking and Peer Quality

A good DBA experience is not only about courses. It is also about learning with other experienced professionals who bring real business problems into the classroom. That peer environment matters because practical knowledge and scholarly knowledge do not always move easily between the workplace and the academy. argued in 2006 that the theory-practice gap is not just a transfer problem; it is also a knowledge production problem. DBA students can help bridge that gap by bringing practice-based questions into disciplined听inquiry.

Time Commitment

A DBA requires time, focus, and persistence. That is part of its value. The work asks students to read deeply, write clearly, analyze and synthesize carefully, and stay with a problem long enough to understand it beyond surface-level symptoms. For working professionals, that means the question is not only whether the degree is valuable. The question is whether this is the right season to take on the听work.

Career and Financial Considerations

Invariably, the question of a degree often focuses on earnings. To be clear, no degree can guarantee a specific salary, promotion, or career outcome. Still, public labor data shows that higher levels of education are associated with higher median earnings and lower unemployment rates. In 2024, the reported median usual weekly earnings of $2,278 for workers with doctoral degrees and a 1.2% unemployment rate, compared with $1,840 and 2.2%, respectively, for master鈥檚 degree holders. Those figures do not prove that a DBA causes higher earnings, but they do show that doctoral-level education is associated with strong labor market听outcomes.

So, Is a DBA Degree Worth It?

A DBA is worth it when it matches the problem you are trying to solve in your own professional life. It is worth considering if you want to move from experience-based opinion to evidence-informed leadership. It is worth considering if you want to become the kind of professional who can not only make decisions but also explain, defend, test, and improve them. Enrolling in a DBA program is worth considering if your goal is to contribute to your organization, your industry, and your field with more discipline and听depth.

The real value of a DBA is not only the degree; it is the development that happens while earning it. The title may open doors, but the work is what prepares you to walk through them with something meaningful to听say.

每日大瓜 Welcomes Edconic CEO Brandon Busteed to Board of Trustees

Posted on by Jason Bonafide

Albany, N.Y. 鈥� The 每日大瓜 Board of Trustees has appointed Brandon Busteed as a new trustee. The University鈥檚 governing board includes leaders from across the country with deep experience in business, education, government, and public service.听

Busteed is the CEO of Edconic, a family-owned education company which delivers relevant, experiential courses taught by industry experts from globally-recognized organizations. Edconic operates Sotheby鈥檚 Institute of Art, Vogue College of Fashion, The School of The New York Times, and Manchester City Sports Business School.听

鈥溍咳沾蠊� shares my commitment to听creating听opportunities for learners at every stage of their academic journeys,鈥澨齭aid Busteed. 鈥淚t听is an honor to serve with this remarkable group of trustees during听a听time of听exciting听innovation and growth听at听Excelsior.听Together, we will advance听Excelsior鈥檚 mission of听expanding access and听improving the lives of students everywhere.鈥�听

Before听Edconic, Busteed was chief partnership officer and global head of Learn-Work Innovation at Kaplan and was also global head of Public Sector at Gallup. He also previously served as Gallup鈥檚 executive director of Education and Workforce Development. Busteed is also the founder and CEO of Outside the Classroom, an ed tech company whose courses on alcohol abuse and sexual assault prevention have been taken by more than 15 million college students.听

Busteed has published more than 300 articles and keynoted more than 200 conferences, is a LinkedIn “Top Voice,” and one of the most read education contributors to Forbes.com. He is a trustee emeritus of Duke and has served on the board of visitors to the Sanford School of Public Policy. 听

For more information on the 每日大瓜 Board of Trustees and full biographies of each member, visit听/about/leadership/trustees.听

Media contact 每日大瓜:鈥�
Jason Bonafide,鈥�jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446鈥�听

About 每日大瓜鈥�听

每日大瓜 is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥� academically and geographically 鈥� removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.鈥����听

Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. 每日大瓜鈥檚 academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with鈥痑dditional鈥痩icensing for Florida-based programs.鈥���听

Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928).鈥疉dditional鈥痠nformation鈥痳egarding鈥痶his institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.鈥�听

Why You Should Earn a Nuclear Engineering Technology Degree

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Technology is advancing, and so is the demand for clean, reliable energy. That means the need for skilled professionals in the nuclear industry continues to grow, as well. A degree in nuclear engineering technology can prepare students to work at the forefront of energy production and open doors to a wide range of in-demand careers. Students in this field gain technical knowledge and learn the hands-on skills they need to make an impact in this important industry that powers communities around the听world.

4 Reasons to Study Nuclear Engineering Technology

A nuclear engineering technology (NET) degree can lead to a rewarding career in an essential and evolving industry. Whether you鈥檙e interested in energy production, advanced technology, or solving problems, there are many reasons to pursue a career in this field. Here are some of the biggest benefits of a nuclear engineering technology听degree.

1. Applied Learning

An associate, bachelor鈥檚, and even advanced degree in nuclear engineering technology covers important topics in engineering, mathematics, and chemistry, as well as teaches students to think critically, solve complex problems, and make informed decisions under pressure. Students can also learn to strengthen their communication skills. A nuclear engineering technology degree not only helps students build skills employers are looking for but also prepares them for hands-on training and advancement opportunities that can be transferred in an evolving听industry.

2. Diversity of Career听Options

While it鈥檚 true that nuclear technology is most associated with energy production, students can pursue a number of career paths that align with their interests and goals. The nuclear industry includes opportunities in mechanical and civil engineering roles, as well as roles in compliance, safety, and leadership. Nuclear tech is used in defense, particularly in the United States Navy. And some NET graduates choose research as their career path, such as in the , where they might apply their knowledge toward improving energy efficiencies, aiding space exploration, or developing mobile nuclear听reactors.

Having so many career options available to you is only one of the many reasons to study nuclear engineering technology. You can expect to prepare for a stable and rewarding听future.

3. Competitive Compensation

One of the benefits of a nuclear engineering technology degree is the high earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2024, , and . More experienced engineers and technicians can command higher wages. Your salary also varies depending on where you work, the field you work in, and the size of your听employer.

4. Contributing to a Sustainable Future

Earning an NET degree is an exciting step for students who want to make a real-world impact. Nuclear power provides reliable, low-carbon energy that can help global efforts to combat climate change. As the demand for clean energy grows, so does our need for professionals to manage this energy. Earning an NET degree can prepare students for this evolving industry. Students gain the technical and hands-on skills needed to support reactor technology, energy production, safety systems, and environmental听responsibility.

Start Your NET Career with Excelsior

If you鈥檙e looking to pursue your career in nuclear engineering technology, consider earning your NET degree from 每日大瓜. We offer the only 100% online Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology program in the United States. It鈥檚 an ideal option for students who want to advance their education while balancing life鈥檚 other responsibilities. Designed with the industry鈥檚 needs in mind, this program provides students with the technical knowledge, practical experience, and problem-solving skills employers are looking听for.

Excelsior specializes in career-focused education and support, including our Career Readiness services, which can help prepare students to enter or reenter the workforce. Explore the BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology program and find out why you belong at听Excelsior.

Excelsior ALC Member Chris Arima Redefines Inspiration

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Chris Arima has built a career that, on paper, reads like a list of accomplishments. He is an attorney practicing complex civil litigation in California, a former prosecutor, a military veteran who served as an Arabic linguist, and a member of the 每日大瓜 Alumni Leadership Council.

But he doesn鈥檛 see himself as an inspiration.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 inspire people,鈥� he says plainly. 鈥淚 actually think it鈥檚 the reverse. I鈥檓 inspired every day by meeting these people, meeting these young kids, meeting these students, meeting these moms, parents, daughters, uncles, aunts, people that are going through so much in their life.鈥�

That mindset has followed Arima throughout his legal career. His path hasn鈥檛 been about recognition; it鈥檚 been about moving forward, one step at a time.

Wanting to Be More

Arima grew up living in rural Arkansas and Texas. When he was 11 years old, his father died in a car accident鈥攁 collision that also left Arima seriously injured.

By his early teens, he was working to help support his family.

鈥淚 was in speech therapy while working to keep the money,鈥� he recalls, explaining that by 13, he was working as a dishwasher and waiter, trying to help his family escape foreclosure during the 2008 financial crisis.

School wasn鈥檛 easy, but he stayed focused. 鈥淚 drove an hour and a half to high school each way,鈥� Arima says. 鈥淎nd I always wanted to be more. I wanted education. I wanted to challenge my brain.鈥�

But when he first tried college, it didn鈥檛 go as planned. 鈥淚 failed when I went to college. It was so hard, and I think that I was almost, like, burnt out.鈥�

After about a year, Arima joined the military in 2013. What started as a general enlistment in the Navy quickly turned into something more specialized when he showed a talent for language. He trained as an Arabic linguist and was deployed to Iraq and Syria supporting intelligence operations.

While deployed, he also returned to school.

Arima enrolled at 每日大瓜 and worked toward his Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts during long, demanding shifts. He recalls studying while on active counter-ISIS operations: 鈥淲e鈥檇 be clearing ops in Mosul, and then I鈥檇 go down into the basement and be studying my Excelsior books and submitting essays at midnight. And then, I鈥檇 sleep in the shower stall for two to three hours, and I鈥檇 be back on ops. And that鈥檚 how I completed my degree [in 2018].鈥�

A Seat at the Table

After leaving the military, Arima enrolled in law school at Syracuse University. His decision was shaped by what he saw during his service.

鈥淵ou鈥檇 have these rooms where decisions are being made. And everywhere was a Juris Doctor; there鈥檚 a lawyer in all of these rooms,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd I wanted to be in that room. I wanted to be a part of that decision-making process.鈥�

Arima spent time working as an attorney in New York City right out of law school, but when his wife got pregnant, they decided it was too difficult to stay in the city to raise a child and follow their legal dreams. They decided to cross the country. Today, Arima is an attorney specializing in civil litigation in the Bay Area, where his wife is also an attorney. He handles cases involving employment discrimination, personal injury, and medical malpractice, and his work focuses on representing individuals who have been harmed.

鈥淎t the end of the day, you get to solve problems, and I think that that鈥檚 a very privileged place to be, and I鈥檓 glad that I鈥檓 doing it,鈥� he says.

Arima also spent time working as a public defender at the Law Offices of the Public Defender of New Mexico, where he saw firsthand how complex and personal the legal system can be. 鈥淭he law is inherently a human experiment. It is inherently human. It is a study and an attempt of human organization, of how we organize our society, how we organize our interpersonal relationships,鈥� he explains.

Learning to Listen

One skill that has benefited Arima throughout his legal career is listening. It鈥檚 an important part of effective communication, he says, and therefore of being an effective attorney.

鈥淵ou have to be a good listener when you鈥檙e a prosecutor or a public defender,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you really listen, then you鈥檒l be able to feel what that person is feeling and really understand what they鈥檙e talking about.鈥�

That approach has shaped his work both in and out of the courtroom. Arima has taught courses in criminal justice and constitutional law, and for the past three years, he has been a mock-trial coach for the Los Lunas High School debate team in Los Lunas, New Mexico, where he taught them about advocacy, rules of evidence, courtroom tactics, and oral argument, but also the value of listening and empathy.

鈥淟istening is the road to empathy,鈥� he explains. 鈥淎nd all the best attorneys also have that skill of empathy. I think what makes you good at whatever you do is just being able to be empathetic.鈥�

Giving Back

Arima has stayed connected to Excelsior after earning his degree. In 2023, he joined the Alumni Leadership Council and is a liaison听to the Legacy and Engagement听Committee, where he routinely communicates with and advocates for Excelsior alumni of all backgrounds. 鈥淚鈥檝e been given access and opportunities that I otherwise would not have been provided had it not been for my opportunities in higher education.鈥�

Through his role on the Alumni Leadership Council, he has met Excelsior graduates with stories similar to his own鈥攑eople balancing work, family, and school while trying to build something better. 鈥淚 think that there鈥檚 a common thread of grit [among Excelsior alumni] that I think is just so uniquely American in a positive way, that there鈥檚 people born in various circumstances that face obstacles, challenge, and oftentimes they fail,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut those are really interesting stories of people that were faced with failure, accepted it, and then were like, 鈥極kay, what鈥檚 the next step? How do I continue this?鈥欌��

Arima adds, 鈥淢eeting so many interesting individuals is my favorite part. I often find that they want to come back; they want to continue their education. I’ve been really privileged to be a part of that process.鈥�

Redefining Inspiration

Even with everything he鈥檚 accomplished, Arima still pushes back on being called inspirational.

鈥淚 think that sometimes we use the word 鈥榠nspiring,鈥� and oftentimes what we鈥檙e really trying to say is part of your story lives in me,鈥� he explains.

He points to moments like helping a student find her voice in writing, not by telling her what to say, but by creating space for her to discover it herself. It was a proud moment for Arima, being able to help a student succeed, but a moment he doesn鈥檛 want credit for. 鈥淚 think it was just giving her the opportunity and space to listen and let her discover [her voice],鈥� he says.

Arima鈥檚 story isn鈥檛 one of easy success or a straight path forward. It鈥檚 a story of setbacks, persistence, and steady progress. And while he may not admit it, his journey shows how far determination鈥攁nd education鈥攃an take you.

Excelsior鈥檚 DBA Leadership Team: Dr. Leah Sciabarrasi

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Leah Sciabarrasi, PhD, is the associate dean of business at 每日大瓜, where she helps develop curricula for business and public service programs, oversees academic quality, and keeps an eye on faculty leadership. Her background is grounded in a blend of creativity, technology, leadership, strategic planning, accreditation, and more. With her broad experience, she has played a central role in shaping some of Excelsior鈥檚 more significant recent developments, like redesigning the MBA curriculum, developing new concentrations, and helping to launch the University鈥檚 first doctoral program.

Here, Sciabarrasi describes the student experience in Excelsior鈥檚 new Doctor of Business Administration program.

How has your experience shaped your approach toward Excelsior鈥檚 Doctor of Business Administration program?

Sciabarrasi: I鈥檝e spent my career building programs that connect strategy, learning design, and real-world applications. Excelsior鈥檚 Doctor of Business Administration program reflects that integration. My background in institutional effectiveness and accreditation keeps focus on rigor, outcomes, and alignment across the full student journey, and my work in talent management and workforce development reinforces that doctoral education should produce leaders who can apply research, not just understand it.

Furthermore, my experience across multiple institutions has taught me the value of clarity, structure, and strong scaffolding. Doctoral students shouldn鈥檛 have to guess how to succeed. At Excelsior, we鈥檙e focusing on straightforward design and robust guidance.

Starting a doctoral program can feel overwhelming. How do you help students navigate those early stages with confidence?

Sciabarrasi: The early stages of any program can be the toughest. We help DBA students through this critical time in several ways:

  • We remove ambiguity early with straightforward pathways. The DBA faculty have been intentional about the design; students see how each course connects to their dissertation from the start.
  • The program is intentionally scaffolded with research, writing, and analysis skills.
  • Students begin their dissertation journey early, and they receive substantial guidance (templates, visuals) to help guide their next move to completion.

For someone balancing work, life, and school, how does Excelsior help make that experience manageable? What kind of support can students expect throughout the DBA program?

Sciabarrasi: Excelsior鈥檚 Doctor of Business Administration program is designed for working professionals and offers a predictable structure, clear timelines, and manageable pacing. Courses are organized in a way that allows students to plan and integrate school into their existing routines. The assignments are purposeful and connected and help students build toward their dissertation throughout the program.

What does mentorship look like in Excelsior鈥檚 DBA program?

Sciabarrasi: Mentorship is fundamental to our DBA program. Students are assigned to a faculty mentor, whom they meet with regularly to ask questions, check in, and stay on track. In addition, DBA students regularly meet with a dissertation committee to help guide their journey all the way up until they present their dissertation.

What would you say to someone who is interested in earning their DBA but is unsure whether they can take on the course load and dissertation?

Sciabarrasi: This program isn鈥檛 for everyone. This isn鈥檛 about simply doing more work; it鈥檚 about doing focused, connected work that builds over time.

That said, you don鈥檛 need to have everything figured out at the start. Excelsior鈥檚 DBA program is built to help get you to the finish line. If you can commit to consistency and engagement, our program will meet you with the structure you need.

Don鈥檛 ask yourself, 鈥淐an I do this?鈥� Ask yourself, 鈥淎m I ready to invest in becoming a more strategic, research-driven leader?鈥�

Strong Start: Helping Excelsior Students Succeed from Day 1

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

每日大瓜 ensures that students are prepared for success the moment their first term begins. The Strong Start Project is guided by the idea that every student who starts with Excelsior鈥攚hether they are completing the necessary general education courses, switching majors, or returning to finish a degree鈥攕hould have the skills, support, and confidence needed to reach听graduation.

Most Excelsior students are adults studying online while balancing careers, families, military service, and/or community commitments. Recognizing the unique barriers that these learners face, faculty and staff developed a series of targeted interventions designed to increase preparation, encourage early engagement, and build a sense of belonging, all from day one. The Strong Start Project helps students who are beginning their coursework, where early confidence and engagement often set the stage for the rest of their college听career.

A Multilayered Approach to Student Orientation

每日大瓜鈥檚 Strong Start Project includes eight interventions that range from large projects to what Mary Berkery, the associate dean of liberal arts, calls small but meaningful nudges. 鈥淭hree of our interventions have focused on increasing incoming students鈥� confidence and preparation for their first term. We launched three orientation experiences this year: a live New Student Orientation Zoom session held on the Monday evening of each eight-week term start; an optional, self-paced New Student Orientation course in Canvas (NSO 010); and live Cornerstone Check-in Zoom sessions held during Week 1 and Week 6 of each听term.鈥�

These interventions help students when they need support most. According to Tracy Caldwell, director of the Strong Start Project, the live New Student Orientation and first Cornerstone Check-in take place during the first week of classes鈥攚hen students are often looking for immediate help with accessing course materials, navigating Canvas, and understanding available support resources. Later, in Week 6, a second Cornerstone Check-in offers another opportunity for students to reflect on their progress, ask questions, and ensure that they are on track with remaining assignments. 鈥淭his opportunity allows students to check in on how they are doing and makes sure they understand the remaining assignments in the Cornerstone,鈥� Caldwell听says.

Strong Start sessions provide just-in-time guidance while reinforcing the availability of on-demand resources. They also create a sense of connection early in the student experience. Through collaboration between the New Student Orientation team, advisors, and instructors, students encounter supportive, familiar faces who help foster confidence and reduce uncertainty at critical moments in the听term.

The orientation course was intentionally designed around competencies relevant to adult learners. Instead of residential life topics often covered at other colleges, Excelsior emphasizes foundational research and writing skills, self-regulated learning, 鈥済rit鈥濃�攁s Berkery puts it鈥攁nd a growth mindset. Students learn how to balance schoolwork with their job and family responsibilities, plan their study schedules, and learn how to ask for help when they need it. The goal is to replace uncertainty with practical, everyday听solutions.

The Institutional Impact of Excelsior鈥檚 Strong Start Project

Cornerstone instructors play a critical role. They are the 鈥渇irst responders,鈥� providing outreach to missing or struggling students and bringing any concerns to Excelsior鈥檚 Academic Advising and Student Support teams. This relationship between faculty and students has proven so effective that the outreach model has expanded to other courses. Near the end of each term, faculty also send reminders encouraging students to register for their next courses. 鈥淲e see this investment pay off, as well, with a demonstrated increase in registration rates,鈥� Berkery听says.

Caldwell notes that many new students arrive with understandable concerns. 鈥淥ne of the barriers for our new students is anxiety over coming back to school after an absence,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n my experience, they also may struggle with technology, time management, and task prioritization.鈥� Elements of the Strong Start initiatives are designed to directly address these challenges. Within the Cornerstone course, students assess their own learning styles and habits and complete a Self-Regulated Learning assessment that offers personalized strategies for听improvement.

That reflection becomes part of a larger journey. By the end of the course, students 鈥減ay it forward鈥� by creating a video for future Excelsior students, sharing what helped them succeed. The assignment creates a full-circle moment: Students who may have started with uncertainty and unanswered questions gain the confidence to guide others. In doing so, they not only build skills but also begin to see themselves as capable, connected members of the Excelsior听community.

Berkery did extensive research before initiating Excelsior鈥檚 Strong Start Project. 鈥淥ur interventions are specific to Excelsior鈥檚 students and their needs,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut they can provide lessons for institutions with similar student bodies and enrich the broader higher education community by adding this understudied population to the literature and听conversations.”

Excelsior is showing other institutions that the right beginning can change the entire trajectory of an adult learner. By meeting students where they are and offering preparation that matters, the University is creating a pathway that carries students from their first login through their final听course.

Early Results and Student Response

Although the project is still in its early days, having fully launched in early 2024, the data is encouraging. Students who participate in the New Student Orientation session engage earlier in their courses. The numbers suggest that when students feel prepared before the first assignment, they are more likely to log in, contribute to discussions, and complete a course. Subsequently, Excelsior has seen a significant decline in failing grades and withdrawals in first courses, as well as a substantial increase in first-time students returning for their second听term.

Student feedback reinforces these findings. Many comments emphasize gratitude for the encouragement and community. One student said, 鈥淚 found out I wasn鈥檛 alone.鈥� Berkery says that captures a large part of the Strong Start Project, 鈥渃onsciously reminding students to stick with it in those hard moments and to remember that you鈥檙e not on your educational journey alone; we are always here alongside you to听help.鈥�

According to Berkery, the lesson can be summed up by paraphrasing the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams: 鈥淚f you build it, they will come.鈥� Without any requirement, approximately 2,000 students have completed NSO 010 since its launch in August 2025, and attendance at live Zoom sessions has 鈥渁stounded鈥� organizers. As Berkery says, 鈥淪tudents vote with their (virtual) feet, and you can see one measure of the effectiveness of an intervention by the numbers of students choosing to spend their precious, limited time engaging with the [Strong Start]听activities.鈥�

Leading Through Change: Business, Education and Innovation with Dr. Brian Allen

Posted on by Brian Allen

Brian Allen, dean of 每日大瓜’s School of Business, was interviewed on the Business RoundUp podcast with host Melissa Bill. In this conversation, Allen shares leadership lessons from his own professional and educational journey, discusses the evolving future of business education, and describes how Excelsior’s scholar-practitioner approach aligns programs like with real-world industry needs.

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Why We Study the Humanities in College

Posted on by Laura Eklund

By studying the humanities in college, both students and their teachers become engaged in areas that are not easily accessible in other academic disciplines. The humanities offer us a vital and essential experience and exploration into our own humanity. Courses in this arena invite us to take on the major questions that any thoughtful and ethical citizen must confront.

Why study humanities? Because doing so invites learners to take on the vital work necessary for a full life at all levels. What does it mean to be a human being? What are the moral, ethical, social, and spiritual values that must be adopted and acted upon to cultivate and preserve humanity at its highest levels?

In many ways, a college course in the humanities asks us to consider how we will guide and govern ourselves in an ever-widening and challenging social landscape. Engaging in the humanities helps us learn more about ourselves and our place in the world, leading to a more meaningful and purposeful life. Studying humanities at the college level encourages us to think critically and helps us become better communicators.

The Importance of the Liberal Arts in College

Life in the new century, more than ever before, is a relativistic frontier in which the crucial values (What is 鈥済ood鈥�? What is justice? What is truth or beauty?) are constantly up for argument and debate. Where and how are we to learn and acquire the skills and materials that will enable us to answer the central questions? As so much of our contemporary undergraduate curriculum swings toward preparation for careers and professions, the task of educating us as ethical, noble, decent, and even heroic citizens is left to courses in the humanities.

Where are we to learn our manners, and how will we develop aesthetic taste? How are we to become fully thriving individuals ready to contribute to a struggling world? Such dispositions do not exactly come naturally. They must be learned.

But essentially, we do not learn our humanity through the STEM curriculum. Rather it is through the humanities that we learn how to be truly human.

The Profound Benefits of Studying Humanities

College humanities courses help students develop empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. Humanities courses help us:

  • Develop into well-rounded individuals who can .
  • Navigate the world鈥檚 complexities.
  • Become more compassionate.
  • Value diversity.
  • Work for social justice and the common good.
  • Think critically about our place in the world.

How can we make tomorrow better for others? This is the kind of big-picture question that the humanities, at the college level especially, encourage us to ask ourselves.

Why Humanities Matter in the Modern World

It鈥檚 not an exaggeration to propose that, especially in these times, it鈥檚 essential that learning institutions stress the importance of the liberal arts experience, which includes generous exposure to the humanities. How can we use this newfound compassion and understanding to make change in our own communities? Let us contribute toward a more just and equitable future together.

Suggesting that humanity, in its myriad dimensions, depends on studies in the humanities is not an outrageous claim. Indeed, without a strong foundation in the humanities, we will struggle to understand and address complex issues facing the world today.

The Value of Humanities Courses at Excelsior University

I encourage you to consider the humanities courses at 每日大瓜. Our thoughtful and diverse curricula will help you fully embrace the power of the liberal arts to drive positive change in our communities and beyond, communicating across differences and manifesting a better future that is inclusive and equitable for all.

There are practical reasons why you should study the humanities at Excelsior. The developed sense of innovation, creativity, and resilience in thinking delivers long-term career success and adaptability. Humanities graduates are commonly seen in executive positions and have acquired skills that AI cannot replicate. Empathy, creativity, and critical thinking are all soft skills that are more difficult to train but are necessary and cultivated through the humanities.

My experience as an art history instructor has taught me much about myself and the world. A background in the arts and humanities has been essential in helping me to become a well-rounded and cultivated human being, eager and unafraid to make a difference. I find myself ever more able to find my way in this diverse and challenging reality.

Consider taking an art history course. Today is the perfect day to start exploring the possibilities that await you!

Excelsior鈥檚 DBA Leadership Team: Dr. Brian Allen

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Brian Allen鈥檚 work has taken him across 48 U.S. states and 38 countries. With a Doctor of Business Administration in technology entrepreneurship, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Project Management, Allen has built a career leading projects, operations, and technology initiatives in industries from IT and e-commerce to renewable energy, telecommunications, and international business. He has taught business at Southern New Hampshire University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Northcentral University, and National University, and he now brings his boardroom experience and real-world perspective to his role as dean of 每日大瓜鈥檚 School of听Business.

Here, Allen reveals his vision for Excelsior鈥檚 new Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, including how students can expect their careers to change upon听graduation.

What is your vision for Excelsior鈥檚 DBA program? What sets it apart?

Allen: The vision for the DBA program is rooted in who 每日大瓜 is and has been historically. Excelsior has been a leader in accepting transfer credits in service of adult learners, with deep roots in meeting workforce needs with applied learning. Students coming from diverse backgrounds and with credits from several institutions have enrolled with Excelsior to enhance their credentials and complete up to the master鈥檚听level.

The DBA is the expansion of Excelsior鈥檚 mission, as it will allow those who have completed a graduate degree to take their diverse experience and hone those skills to become a scholar-practitioner. The person seeking to be a scholar-practitioner is someone who has developed business work and educational skills and now wants to merge those with rigorous scholarly research, data analysis, and refined real-world听problem-solving.

What sets 每日大瓜鈥檚 Doctor of Business Administration program apart from other DBA programs is that we have documented and proven experience of working with applied learning, which is in line with what a DBA is all about. We don鈥檛 have to speak about the theoretical or aspirational impact of our educational philosophy; our graduates are already change agents solving real-world problems. The DBA is an extension of that history being projected into a promising听future.

How has your experience shaped the way you lead this program?

Allen: Experience is a funny thing. You get experience by being willing to take chances and extending yourself. Sometimes, you fail in what you try, but if you keep at it, you can ultimately听succeed.

I chose to complete a DBA because I wanted to solve real-world problems, period. Although I love theory and see the value in assessing different ideas, the DBA offered me what I wanted most. I wanted to be a thought leader, merging scholarly research with practice, policy, and applied knowledge to solve problems. That outlook informs how we are shaping the DBA program here at听Excelsior.

We have a strong leadership team dedicated to and focused on those objectives with a unified voice. Leading Excelsior鈥檚 DBA program is about empowering our students to find their own reasons for solving real-world problems by becoming听scholar-practitioners.

What does a successful DBA student look like?

Allen: There is no one single image or profile that defines a successful DBA student. However, there are some foundations and behaviors that are strong indicators of听success.

Foundationally, DBA students need experience working in business. This can be in myriad areas, including but not limited to organizational leadership, management, logistics, accounting, and entrepreneurship. A student鈥檚 undergraduate and graduate degrees do not necessarily need to be in business, but it does help. Beyond academics, students need personal experience in business leadership, management, and/or project management where they utilize and live business language and听concepts.

The behaviors of a successful DBA student are far more important than a business background. Success in a DBA (or any doctoral) program isn鈥檛 about raw intelligence. More than anything else, success is about consistency and discipline over a long period of time. The students who finish鈥攁nd finish strong鈥攖end to operate very differently than those who stall out. The core behaviors that actually predict success are discipline over inspiration (research and write at a regular cadence), progress over perfection (embrace the ugly draft and revise as needed), resilience over comfort (self-regulate under pressure), and the ability to receive feedback without ego (accept that ideas and writing can be challenged without it being a reflection of听character).

What would you say to someone wondering whether Excelsior鈥檚 DBA program is the right investment for their future?

Allen: A Doctor of Business Administration is not an immediate, guaranteed salary multiplier; a fast career shortcut; or a casual extension of an MBA. Investing your time to complete a DBA is a multiyear commitment in disciplined thinking and action. It will require a transformation in how you approach problems. A DBA is a credential that signals you can operate at the highest level of applied rigor wearing the hats of both a scholar and a practitioner. If you鈥檙e looking for an immediate ROI, there are often faster, cheaper听paths.

However, if you鈥檙e looking for long-term positioning and an identity shift for yourself, then the calculus changes. A DBA is the right choice if you can say any of the following about听yourself:

  • 鈥淚 want to operate at a higher level of thinking, not just听doing.鈥�
  • 鈥淚鈥檓 willing to commit consistent time for several听years.鈥�
  • 鈥淚 care about contributing something meaningful to my听field.鈥�
  • 鈥淚 can leverage this degree in my current or next role and not just听someday.鈥�

The bottom line is that a DBA is not a transactional investment; it鈥檚 a transformational one. Generally, it doesn鈥檛 just change what you know; it changes how you think, lead, and contribute. For the right person, at the right stage, and with the right intent, a DBA is one of the most powerful professional investments available. This degree will help you take your existing business and leadership skills and multiply their effectiveness by adding the development of rigorous academic research skills. This is what it means to be a听scholar-practitioner.

Making a personal investment by earning your DBA can open opportunities for having greater career options and earning more. However, if you disagree with any of the reasons noted above, a DBA just becomes an expensive听distraction.

What can graduates of 每日大瓜鈥檚 DBA program look forward to in their careers?

Allen: An Excelsior DBA graduate can truly look forward to a shift in professional identity, moving from operator to strategist and from experience-based decisions to becoming an evidence-based decision-maker. Program alumni will move from being consumers听of knowledge to being contributors听of knowledge, solving real-world听problems.

The results of that transformation could include advancement into high-level leadership roles, increased credibility and influence, and expanded career pathways (not just promotions). Excelsior DBA graduates prepare themselves to move from execution to greater involvement in strategy. Our program strengthens students鈥� ability to operate at the why and how level of business, not just the what. Consequently, graduates become career and opportunity creators who develop their own career听paths.

Why Networking Is Important for Your Career

Posted on by Camille Dumont

You鈥檝e probably heard that networking matters, but many people early in their careers aren鈥檛 exactly sure why. So, why is networking important? At its core, networking is about building relationships that give you access to information, perspective, and opportunities over听time.

Just as important is understanding what networking is not. It鈥檚 not asking someone for a job or expecting immediate results from a single conversation. Effective networking is built on consistency, curiosity, and mutual value, not quick transactions. It鈥檚 also important to recognize that you likely already have a network. This includes classmates, colleagues, friends, and family connections. Many opportunities come through these existing relationships or introductions, one or two steps听removed.

For anyone pursuing a business career, networking plays a direct role in how you learn about industries, develop professional skills, and move forward. It鈥檚 one of the most practical ways to understand how work actually happens beyond the听classroom.

What Are the Benefits of Networking?

Networking supports your career in ways that go beyond job searching. It helps you build relationships, gain insight, and position yourself more effectively over time. These benefits are especially important in business, where relationships often influence opportunities and听outcomes.

Strengthen Your Connections

Networking allows you to build professional relationships with classmates, colleagues, faculty, and industry professionals. These connections often become long-term contacts you can return to for insight, referrals, or collaboration. Over time, staying in touch through brief check-ins or follow-up conversations helps keep these relationships active and听meaningful.

In business, relationships are often tied directly to results. For example, someone starting or managing a small business may rely on their network to find vendors, partners, or early customers. Strong connections aren鈥檛 just helpful; they鈥檙e part of how business听operates.

Grow Your Brand

Every interaction contributes to how others perceive you. Over time, your communication style, reliability, and knowledge shape your professional听reputation.

Networking can also help you build your brand online. For example, activity on LinkedIn can show what you know and what you鈥檙e interested in. Commenting thoughtfully on posts, sharing relevant articles, posting about industry topics, or responding to trends can help others see your professional interests and perspective. In business settings, and especially in a small business, your reputation can influence whether people choose to work with you, recommend you, or trust your听services.

Open More Job Opportunities

Many opportunities are shared through conversations rather than job postings. Networking increases the likelihood that someone will think of you when a role, project, or need听arises.

Organizations like the emphasize the importance of building professional connections as part of career readiness, recognizing that relationships play a significant role in how opportunities are听discovered.

This applies beyond traditional employment. In business roles, networking can lead to partnerships, client relationships, or contract work. For small businesses, a single connection can lead to ongoing work or听referrals.

Receive Career Support and Advice

One of the most valuable outcomes of networking is access to guidance. Through conversations, you can connect with people who have more experience and are willing to share what they鈥檝e听learned.

Over time, some of these relationships may develop into mentorship. A mentor can help you think through decisions, avoid common mistakes, and better understand your career direction. One way to start these conversations is through informational interviews where you talk with someone about their career path, role, or industry without the expectation of asking for a job. These conversations can also help you better understand what to expect in a role before you pursue听it.

Build Confidence

Networking helps you become more comfortable introducing yourself, asking thoughtful questions, and engaging in professional conversations. These are skills that improve with听practice.

That confidence carries into business situations such as presenting ideas, speaking with clients, or explaining your value. The more you engage, the more natural these interactions听become.

What You Should Say When Networking

One of the biggest barriers to networking is not knowing what to say. Most networking conversations are simple and conversational, but it helps to have a short introduction听ready.

Often called an , this introduction can be used in both planned and unexpected situations. You may meet someone while waiting in line, traveling, attending a webinar, or having a casual听conversation.

A strong introduction should briefly explain who you are, what you鈥檙e interested in, and what you鈥檙e working听toward.

For example, 鈥淚鈥檓 currently finishing a business degree and focusing on operations. I鈥檓 interested in how companies improve efficiency, and I鈥檓 exploring roles where I can work on process听improvement.鈥�

That kind of preparation makes it easier to take advantage of opportunities when they happen听naturally.

Where Can You Network?

Networking doesn鈥檛 happen in just one place, and it doesn鈥檛 require formal events to be effective. In addition to in-person interactions, digital spaces like LinkedIn have made it easier to connect with professionals across听industries.

Common ways to network听include:

  • Industry events, conferences, or virtual听panels
  • Professional platforms like听LinkedIn
  • Community听events
  • Client听interactions
  • Local business听groups

Additionally, networking opportunities for students听include:

  • Class discussions and group听projects
  • Conversations with faculty or guest听speakers
  • Alumni events and university-sponsored听webinars

The key is consistency, building relationships over time rather than treating networking as a one-time听activity.

Extend Your Network Through Excelsior University

If you鈥檙e looking to build your network, your college experience is one of the most practical places to start. You鈥檙e surrounded by peers, faculty, alumni, and industry professionals who can become part of your long-term professional听circle.

At 每日大瓜, students in the business degree program gain more than academic knowledge. They also have access to Career Readiness resources, employer events, and opportunities to connect with alumni and professionals in their field. These experiences provide structured ways to network, whether through virtual events, webinars, or conversations with industry听professionals.

For working adults, the flexibility of online learning makes it possible to build these connections while managing other responsibilities. As you develop your skills, you鈥檙e also building relationships that can support your next step, whether that鈥檚 advancing in your role, changing careers, or growing a听business.

If you鈥檙e ready to strengthen your skills and your network, consider exploring Excelsior鈥檚 BS in Business听program.