Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Vogel, Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change
Current occupation: Assistant Director of Global Regional Programs
What made you decide to pursue your degree as an adult?
Acquiring a Ph.D was something that has been a professional goal of mine for a long time. With the content of the Ph.D. program focusing on Global Leadership and Change, the subject matter I felt would empower me to make informed decisions and have the skillsets to move up in my current profession. When discovering the Ph.D. program offered at Tiffin, it seemed like a perfect fit as the coursework was online and offered in asynchronous format with deadlines which offered the flexibility to my work schedule. With the residencies that are offered, usually in March, I felt very connected to the Tiffin campus.
Why did you choose to study at Tiffin University?
I decided to study at Tiffin University because the Ph.D program in Global Leadership and Change was a perfect fit for me as a professional in the field of international education. The program was offered in an asynchronous format which allowed for flexibility around my work schedule. The content of the coursework was also unique which influenced my decision to attend.
Tell us about your experience with the program.
The Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change provides practitioners in a variety of disciplines the skillsets and tools that are necessary to make an impact in their communities. Throughout the program I felt supported, challenged, and grew enormously. The coursework is delivered through the Moodle platform which is very intuitive to use.
How was your experience been with faculty?
The faculty in the Ph.D program were extremely supportive and they cultivate a positive environment which sets students up for success. During the dissertation phase of the program, the committee and I would meet to discuss my research, the methodology and how the process was going. Their investment in me during the process provided me the necessary support along with their expertise which led to my successful defense of my dissertation. I cannot thank each of them enough.
How did you juggle work, life and going back to school? Any tips?
Humans by nature adapt to new environments and surroundings. You will be able to find your rhythm and find a schedule that works for you. The Ph.D. program faculty want to see you succeed and are extremely supportive.
What kept you motivated to stay in the program?
What kept me motivated to stay in the program was the connections with my committee during the dissertation phase of my research-Dr. Rauch, Dr. Mays, and Dr. Martin. The relationships that I cultivated with each of them made me feel supported and inspired when working through the dissertation phase of the program. The faculty during the Ph.D coursework section of the program continuously made themselves available to connect if we had questions or concerns which provided the added motivation as needed. My family as well kept me motivated to stay in the program as I wanted to be able to provide for them in the future.
What advice would you give to a prospective student who is thinking about going back to school?
You can do it! Take the opportunity and invest in yourself!
TU’s motto is: Without risk there is no gain. Can you tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you gained from it?
During the research phase of my dissertation I was focused on pursuing a quantitative study with a specific self-efficacy instrument that was supposed to be adapted. Methodologically the instrument would have had to go through multiple statistical validation tests which would have caused a lot of time and effort with little guarantee. On the advice of my committee members, I switched to a qualitative methodology which provided rich description from my respondents and discovered new insights I would not have had without employing this type of methodology.