College of Doctoral Studies
Staff
College of Doctoral Studies Vice Provost and Dean of Operations
Hinrich Eylers, PhD
Vice Provost of Doctoral Studies and Academic Operations
John Ramirez, MBA, USA CSM (ret)
Dean of Operations
John Ramirez is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. After graduating from high school, CSM (Retired) Ramirez enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer. CSM (Retired) Ramirez served in the United States Army for 27 years and retired as a Command Sergeant Major. During his military service he served worldwide in numerous leadership positions.
John has been a member of the 七色视频 since November 2004. He has held numerous positions that include Senior Operations Manager, Director of Operations, Associate Campus Director for the College of Doctoral Studies, and Vice President of External Military Relations. He currently serves as the Dean of Operations for the College of Doctoral Studies.
John is active with numerous groups including Council of Colleges and Military Educators, National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services, American Society for Industrial Security, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. He also supports a variety of national and Phoenix-based veteran charitable and non-profit organizations.
John was the recipient of the Association of Latino Professionals for America鈥檚 (ALPFA) National 2017 Veteran of the Year Award and served the Chairman of the Corporate Advisory Board for the Phoenix Chapter of ALPFA in 2016 and 2017. In 2020 he was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. He serves as the advisor for the UOPX chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In January 2024, John was recognized by Arizona Business AZ Big 100, as one of the top 50 Arizona business leaders to watch in 2024.
College of Doctoral Studies Associate Deans
Cathy Lalley, PhD
Associate Dean, College of Doctoral Studies
Shawn Todd-Boone, EdD
Associate Dean,听College of Doctoral Studies
Lilia Santiague, PhD
Associate Dean, College of Doctoral Studies
Herman van Niekerk, PhD
Associate Dean,听College of Doctoral Studies
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College of Doctoral Studies Faculty Overview
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College of Doctoral Studies Doctoral Program Managers (DPMs)
Patricia Akojie, PhD
Doctoral Program Manager Education
Dr. Patricia Akojie earned a PhD (Educational Policy
...Studies and Evaluation) from University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.听 She earned a M.Ed. (Educational Administration and Foundations) from the University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria. Her second Masters, M.Sc. (Instructional Design) from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY.听 Dr. Akojie has certifications in Secondary Education, Educational Technology, and Kentucky Teacher Supervisor Certificate.
Dr. Akojie is a Doctoral Program Manager (Education) for the College of Doctoral Studies.听 She has been with the 七色视频 Online since 2004 and active participant in 七色视频听听activities, such as听Research Scholar听for the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR). As a faculty practitioner Dr. Akojie was a high school teacher and administrator.听 Then, she served as the Director of Education Graduate Program at Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky.听 Wrote grants for two听TRIO programs - the McNair Program and the Educational Talent Search Program.听 Both programs are funded by U.S. Department of Education to assist low-income and first-generation students. 听She serves on various educational boards including the Boys and Girls Club.
Dr. Patricia Akojie is married to Felix Akojie, a retired Biology professor.听 They have four grown children and seven grandchildren.听 Dr. Akojie enjoys reading, sewing, traveling, and trying spicy exotic foods.听A collector of vintage sewing machines, mostly Singer, Wilcox-Gibbs, and Wheeler-Wilson.听 She has been to the following countries - Republic of Togo, Canada, Britain, Italy, Nigeria, London, Vienna, Switzerland, Amsterdam, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Island, Abu-Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujarah.听
LaTasha Bibbs, DHA
Doctoral Program Manager Health Administration
Dr. LaTasha Bibbs is an accomplished听
...Health Administrator with an extensive background in program management and leadership. She has more than 12 years of experience working in the healthcare industry working alongside C-Suite executives and administrators. Dr. Bibbs has worked with the 七色视频 for two years in various roles. Currently, Dr. Bibbs serves as the Doctoral Program Manager/Chair (Health Administration). Dr. Bibbs has worked in roles such as Executive Director with an emphasis in project coordination/management for a large mental health facility in Atlanta Georgia and a Deputy Director for a nonprofit organization partnering with the local Health Department for the health and wellness of local communities in and around Mississippi. Dr. Bibbs has also worked on projects such as The All of Us Research Program with the National Institute of Health and Precision Medical Initiative focusing on individualized prevention, treatment, and care for all of us. 听Dr. Bibbs earned her Bachelors in Kinesio Physical Therapy from Mississippi College and her Masters and Doctorate in Health Administration from the 七色视频.
Nicole Baker, EdD
Doctoral Program Manager ACCESS
Dr. Nicole Baker has been with the 七色视频
...since 2007 as a faculty member and part of the leadership team. Currently, Dr. Baker serves in the role of Doctoral Program Manager (ACCESS). Dr. Baker obtained her Bachelor's Degree from Northern Illinois University, Master's Degree in Leadership from Concordia University, and Doctorate Degree in Education from Olivet Nazarene University. 听Dr. Baker has been in the education field for over 25 years, spending her early career teaching elementary and middle school听补苍诲 then moved into higher education, teaching those who want to be teachers. Dr. Baker resides in Northwest Indiana with her husband and four children.
Stephen J. Notaro, PhD
Doctoral Program Manager Business
Dr. Stephen J. Notaro has听an earned Ph.D. in听
...healthcare policy and administration, a master鈥檚 degree in public administration, and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in health administration. He has nearly 30 years of experience as a professor including the past five years as a Panel Validator in the UOPX ACCESS program. Dr. Notaro has been recognized for teaching excellence with multiple awards including the UOPX Faculty of the Year and a three-time winner of the John Sperling Distinguished Faculty Award, utilizing a coaching style of instruction with a basic philosophy of doing whatever it takes to help students succeed. Dr. Notaro鈥檚 research agenda includes publications on various aspects of the health care system. He is a Fellow in Residence at the Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research. The opportunity to take the business programs to an even higher level while helping students succeed is a welcomed challenge.
Dr. Notaro has over 20 years of experience as a business owner, in health planning and health care consulting, along with management experience in non-for-profit organizations. For fun, he is a fitness fanatic who is also always trying to perfect his pasta and pizza recipes. Originally from near Buffalo, NY, Dr. Notaro is a huge Buffalo Bills fan and an avid New York Yankee fan.
College of Doctoral Studies Doctoral Faculty Managers (DFMs)
Diane Archer-Banks, PhD
Doctoral Faculty Manager Associate Faculty
Dr. Diane Archer-Banks is an accomplished educator, scholar,听
...leader, and author with experience across K-12, higher education, and nonprofit management in the U.S. and the Caribbean. She has been with the 七色视频 since 2015.
Dr. Archer-Banks holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from the University of Florida. Her research interests include the intersectionality of race, gender, and socioeconomic status on individuals' schooling and leadership experiences, youth leadership development, educational policy development, program evaluation, and student learning and assessment. 听
Dr. Archer-Banks is an active researcher with publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Urban Education, School Science and Mathematics, Journal of Education and Social Justice, and The Journal of Negro Education. She has presented at local, national, and international conferences across the U.S., Canada, France, Africa, and the Caribbean; contributing to discussions on educational equity, leadership, and systemic change. Dr. Archer-Banks serves as a peer reviewer for journals and organizations, including Urban Education, School Science and Mathematics, Journal of Negro Education, and American Educational Research Association. She has also contributed to research initiatives funded by the National Science Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Northeast Florida Educational Consortium.
Beyond academia, Dr. Archer-Banks continues to lead and contribute to initiatives supporting youth leadership development, girls' participation in STEM, and college access and success among at-risk populations.
King Imani, DM
Doctoral Faculty Manager University Research Methodologist
Dr. King Imani is the Doctoral Faculty Manager
...for the University Research Methodologist.听 He听has published peer-reviewed scholarship on topics including virtual research, educational equity, post-pandemic research, inclusive leadership, systemic equity in HR practices, and cultural humility in educational leadership. His work often explores the intersection of language, belonging, and identity in learning environments, particularly as it relates to immigrant populations and marginalized learners. He brings this same analytical lens to his teaching and mentoring, equipping students, and faculty to integrate systems and rebuild them with justice in mind.
Before entering academia, Dr. Imani spent more than ten years as a licensed private investigator and senior HR executive, developing compliance frameworks and retention strategies for rapidly growing organizations. His leadership roles included positions in Fortune 500 companies, charter school networks, and consulting firms, where he led measurable DEI initiatives that resulted听in听over 70%听improvement听in听retention,听a听60% increase in diversity representation, and a 67% rise in employee satisfaction scores.
He is also the founder of听Project The Standard听补苍诲I鈥橩ing LLC, which provide advisory services and cultural intelligence training to mission-driven organizations nationwide. He is also the co-founder of Academics Only Please, bridging the gap between academia, excellence, and equity. At his core, Dr. Imani is a systems听鈥媡hinker, community advocate, and legacy builder, working at the intersection of law, learning, and leadership to open pathways for the next generation.
Charles H. Elliott, DHSc
Doctoral Faculty Manager Health Administration
Dr. Charles H. Elliott, "Charlie" is the Doctoral Faculty Manager for听
...the Doctor of Health Administration program. He has served as a Doctoral Staff Instructor for the DHA program for five years, where he earned teaching awards each year. Most recently, he was awarded the John Sperling Distinguished Faculty Award in 2024 and 2025 along with being Chair for DHA Dissertation of the Year in 2024.听
His prior teaching experience was at the 七色视频 (UOPX) local campus in Columbus, OH. Later, he taught in the UOPX Master of Health Administration Program as an adjunct instructor. From there, he was named Course Director of Global Health in the University of Cincinnati's Master of Health Administration听Program for four years.听
Prior to an academic career , he had two decades of experience as a clinical medical provider. Later, he was named Global Director Medical Affairs for the Fortune 500 company. As director, he oversaw and developed medical programs in many countries. Also, he has presented to audiences on health issues and health systems in Taiwan, China, Canada, Scotland, England, the Netherlands and Italy along with others. Working with global groups such as the World Health Organization and International SOS, they produced one of the original pandemic preparation plans in the early days of Avian Influenza. Later, he was awarded the Global High Five award at the company for innovation in global program leadership and innovation. He also has received a Commonwealth of Kentucky Governor's Award for service. During his medical career, Charlie spent two years in a corporate human resources leadership training position.
He obtained his Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree from Nova Southeastern University听 听His Master of Physician Assistant studies was from the University of Nebraska and his Bachelor of Health Science was from the University of Kentucky. His academic interests include global health issues, population health and impact of AI in health administration.听
A native of Kentucky, he now lives in Dublin, OH with his family.
听
Stef Lassitter, Ed.D.
Doctoral Faculty Manager Panel Validator/ACCESS
Dr. Stef Lassiter is the Doctoral Faculty Manager
...for the Panel Validators.听听With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Stef Lassitter is a dedicated leader and educator who has served in various academic and administrative roles, including instructional designer, subject matter expert (SME), multimedia and instructional development team lead, and faculty mentor. Her work reflects a strong commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student success.听
Dr. Lassitter primarily focuses on creating transformative learning experiences at the graduate and doctoral levels. As a doctoral faculty member, she mentors students through advanced research and scholarship, offering guidance that supports both academic development and professional growth. Her dedication to academic support also extends to faculty development, where she collaborates with instructors to enhance teaching effectiveness in online and hybrid environments. She has facilitated numerous workshops on topics such as active learning strategies, learner-centered course design, and promoting critical thinking through online discussion. Her publication, 鈥淭he Faculty Lounge: Designing a 'Local' Space for Online Adjunct Faculty鈥 (in J.L. Robinson鈥檚 Becoming and Supporting Online Adjunct Faculty in a Gig Economy, 2023), reflects her commitment to building authentic, inclusive spaces that foster community, connection, and professional growth among online faculty.
Dr. Lassitter鈥檚 research centers on the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Framework, with a particular focus on how it can be applied to support the success and engagement of online learners. She explores how integrating cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence can foster deeper learning, stronger connections, and greater persistence among students in virtual academic environments. Her work aims to enhance the design and facilitation of online learning experiences that are interactive, meaningful, and learner-centered.听
Les H. Huffman, DM
Doctoral Faculty Manager Business
Dr. Les H. Huffman is the Doctoral Faculty Manager for
...the Business Programs. He has been with the 七色视频 since August, 2007 in a variety of roles and have been with the College of Doctoral Studies since September, 2015. He has 4 beautiful grandchildren that he loves to spoil and spend time with. Every day as he works with doctoral students his goal is to support their development into scholar, practitioner, and leaders, seeking to empower their creative action that will make a difference in their lives and in their communities. One of the goals of our Doctor of Management program is to produce competent, confident, and skilled thought leaders employing critical thinking to make a difference. Dr. Huffman's research interests are in Leadership and how leadership is conducted.听 He enjoys doing research on the Four Pillars of Leadership (Honesty, Integrity, Humility with Self-Discipline, and Trust) and how the Four Pillars of Leadership affect 21st Century Leadership.
Josh Valk, PhD
Doctoral Faculty Manager Education
Dr. Josh Valk is the Doctoral Faculty Manager
...for the Ed.D. program. The majority of his career was spent in sales management, with responsibilities for teams of up to 200 and sales of up to $600 million. He has served as a K-12 teacher and administrator, and in higher education positions ranging from adjunct faculty to associate provost. He also has led several startups. He was born and raised in Boston, MA in 1981, moved to Houston, TX in 2004, moved to Boise, ID in 2016, moved to Salt Lake City, UT in March, 2020, and made his forever move to Douglas, WY in April, 2021. Dr. Valk鈥檚 hobbies include woodworking, competing in mud runs and obstacle course races (OCR), reading (especially Stephen King), writing, baseball, football, MMA, politics, power lifting, and video games. He is also very active politically and has run for office twice in the past and is running again in 2024. He has been married to his wife Monica since 2007 and they have three little girls: Skylar (age 16), Mikaela (age 15), and Summer (age 13). In addition to his duties at UOPX, Dr. Valk is an adjunct faculty member at Ottawa University and Eastern Wyoming College, a Realtor for Platinum Properties of Casper, and a probationary volunteer firefighter for the Douglas Volunteer Fire Department.
If you want to know more about his background he encourages you to connect with him on LinkedIn:听听
University Research Chairs
Mansureh Kebritchi, PhD
University Research Chair Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research
Dr. Mansureh Kebritchi is an accomplished educational
...researcher with over 4,800 peer-reviewed citations. She is deeply passionate about educational research and has extensive experience as a research methodologist and instructional designer. She is dedicated to mentoring doctoral students and supporting faculty members in their research and publications in the field of education. Dr. Kebritchi is the founder and chair of the听Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research at the College of Doctoral Studies, 七色视频. Additionally, she leads workshops such as the Dissertation to Publication听补苍诲听the Research to Publication,听the Research Methodology Group, and听the Alumni Research and Support Group. She has been a guest editor for the Phoenix Scholar Special Editions on Adult Learners in Online Higher Education and Reshaping Education through Innovation.
Dr. Kebritchi is passionate about finding new and creative methods to enhance the quality of education in different settings, whether K-12, higher education, or corporate environments, both online and in-person. Her recent work focuses on a variety of topics, including exploring , , motivating faculty in online higher education, cultivating grit in students, , and . She also investigated , , , and . She has shared her research with international audiences through publishing in journals and presenting at conferences. Dr. Kebritchi earned her Ph.D. in Education, Instructional Technology from the University of Central Florida and her Master of Arts degree in Education, Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning Specializing in Computer Applications from the University of Toronto.听听The complete list of Dr. Kebritchi鈥檚 publications can be viewed at .
Rodney Luster, PhD, LPC
University Research Chair Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Research
Dr. Rodney Luster is also the Senior Director of Research
... Strategy, Innovation and Development for the College of Doctoral Studies. He is also the Chair for the Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Research. He has worked for the 七色视频 for over 20 years in various leadership roles. He also maintains a private practice as a licensed professional counselor with his own private practice called Inspirethought LLC. In addition to these roles, he also serves as the lead contact and approver for the Committee on Research [COR], and lead designer for the Phoenix Scholar research periodical. Dr Luster holds a Master of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology from Our Lady of the Lake University, a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and Human Science from Capella University, and conducted his residency in counseling at John Hopkins University.
Rodney is a published researcher working with a variety of publishers from IGI Global Press, Routledge Press, Journal for Leadership Studies, and Emerald. Some recent works include the Handbook of Research on Entrepreneurship and Organizational Resilience During Unprecedented Times听[chptr] , [chptr] , and the听Journal for Leadership Studies听.听He has also written for social media with pieces that include, "The Psychiatric Times" 鈥 , "Giddy Magazine" 听补苍诲 "Everyday Health Magazine" 听 He also maintains his own blog for . Dr. Luster is an active national presenter and conference speaker and has presented at the [APA] American Psychological Association's听National Conference and the International Leadership Association's [ILA] conference regularly. He is frequently interviewed as an SME on a variety of topics such as KPI Institute's SERO Boost Podcast on the topic of .
Kimberly Underwood, PhD
University Research Chair Center for听Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging
Dr. Kimberly Underwood听has over two decades of experience
...in diversity management and strategic planning in business, government and higher education. She serves as the University Research Chair for the Center for听Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging at UOPX. As a highly recognized thought leader and consultant, Dr. Underwood鈥檚 research agenda includes numerous publications, conference presentations, and speaking events including topics surrounding organizational diversity socialization processes, generational research, fostering organizational belonging, building inclusive leadership, diversifying STEM fields, research methods, and diversity management strategies. She has also received numerous awards for teaching and research excellence throughout her academic career, including the UPCEA Research and Scholarship Award and Georgetown University鈥檚 Tropaia Outstanding Faculty Award.
Dr. Underwood earned her Ph.D. in Educational Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Executive Certificate in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University, and certificates in Diversity and Inclusion for Human Resources, Conflict Resolution, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Building a Diverse Workforce from Cornell University.听