drrussellstrickland

Janice Weaver, Ph.D. is an experienced communicator and has used that ability to encourage, validate, and support people who are striving to discover their untapped potential. She has worked with people of all ages as a professional counselor and group facilitator. Dr. Weaver has been invited to speak on multiple occasions at a local college psychology honor society toe share her expertise of how the knowledge of psychology can increase one’s understanding of human behavior.

Dr. Weaver's passion is using her doctorate to expand her influence in supporting, encouraging, and guiding other doctoral students. She serves as an adjunct dissertation chair where she is committed to using her experiences and knowledge to expand her influence to her students, and the larger public, with the goal of assisting students to finish the grueling dissertation process, and earn their doctorate so they can better their lives, and the lives of others.

In this episode…

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Janice Weaver reveals to Dr. Russell Strickland how her struggles with her dissertation chair motivated her to become the dissertation chair she wishes she had during her own doctoral journey. The Drs. discuss the critical importance of having both logistical and emotional support for your dissertation. Dr. Weaver stresses how risky it can be to begin your dissertation without a detailed completion plan. Of course, life poses a myriad of risks which do not abate simply because one is pursing a doctoral degree. Dr. Weaver makes the case for the therapeutic benefits of the dissertation to cope with life's greatest challenges.

Dr. Weaver's unique perspective as a recent doctoral graduate and a current dissertation chair could be just the advantage you need to Get Your Dissertation Done!

D. Anthony Miles, Ph.D. is an entrepreneur, award-winning researcher, award- winning professor, statistician, legal expert witness, business expert and best- selling author. Dr. Miles is a nationally known startup and marketing expert. He is also a forensic marketing expert. He has appeared in the national media for his expertise. He is CEO and Founder, of Miles Development Industries Corporation®, a consulting practice and venture capital acquisition firm. He is also host and executive producer of Game On Business Talk® Radio Show. He was a Visiting Professor. He has presented his research at conferences around the country. Most notably he has presented at Stanford University. He was invited to Harvard University by the Harvard Business School (HBS).

In this episode…

So you've finally got that shiny, new doctoral degree. What's next?

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. D. Anthony Miles and Dr. Russell Strickland swap war stories about what it takes to be successful in the doctoral degree process and after graduation. How do you best showcase your expertise and leverage it into the career of your dreams? Dr. Miles reveals how to position yourself as an expert to attorneys so that you can generate revenue as a professional expert witness. He also discusses his experiences in writing and publishing a book for the popular press and how to start getting calls from media outlets for interviews on blogs, podcasts, radio, and television.

Dr. Miles is dropping gold in this episode about how to build a career as a professional expert and have the time of your life doing it!

Dr. Russell Strickland is the founder and CEO of Dissertation Done, a company that helps doctoral students create actionable plans in order to complete their dissertations in a timely and effective manner. 

Before becoming a renowned teacher, coach, and mentor, Dr. Strickland received his master’s degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of Chicago and his doctoral in Organization and Management from Capella University. Over the past 20 years, he has mentored thousands of students, and his process has been proven to vastly reduce times to graduation and significantly improve graduation rates.

In this episode…

There are significant costs, financial and otherwise, that students have to take into consideration when they commit to earning their doctoral degrees. From tuition fees to years of investment, these costs have a direct impact on a student’s odds of graduating. 

Statistics show that doctoral students only have a 50/50 chance of completing their dissertations, which Dr. Russell Strickland refers to as the “dissertation coin flip.” Fortunately, Dr. Strickland has some expert advice on how to reduce the costs hindering your success so that you can achieve what you set out to accomplish. In other words, he’s here to ensure that your dissertation coin flip comes up heads. 

Join Dr. Russell Strickland of Dissertation Done in this episode of An Unconventional Life as he talks to Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 Media about overcoming the low statistical odds of completing your dissertation.  Dr. Strickland discusses how to create an insurance policy to boost your chances, when to invest in external support and guidance, and how you know you’ve reached the “magical tipping point” that ensures your success. Stay tuned.

Thomas Joseph, Ph.D. was born in Dominica, an island in the Caribbean. Dr. Joseph is an expert in effectively training employees on relevant products, services, and procedures, helping deliver high standards of customer service coupled with established objectives and KPIs. His unique style to training development results in actual change, saving companies time and money.

Dr. Joseph has been engaged in higher education as an Instructor in Business Management and Leadership courses for several years. He holds a PhD in Organization and Management. As an educator, Dr. Joseph fosters positive learning, incites students’ passion for learning, and creates a sound and genuine basis for life-long learning. His teaching style exemplifies the role of mentor, consistent with his primary focus on student success. 

Dr. Joseph's professional passion is applying a collaborative leadership style for designing and implementing programs that create improved organizational performance, talent and succession planning, strategy implementation and processes. 

He has published his work in various scholarly journals and is also the author of the book, Notes to Self.  Dr. Joseph continues his desire for knowledge through research, higher learning, and inspiring others to live their best life and work towards achieving their goals.

In this episode…

What does it mean to succeed...and what does it take to get there?

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Thomas Joseph tells Dr. Russell Strickland about the ins and outs of the dissertation journey from his experience as a student and an educator. He discusses the importance of motivation and measurable goals in overcoming a pessimistic advisor and how a delicate balancing act of pushback with his dissertation committee chair led to a better working relationship... and a done dissertation! Since graduation, Dr. Joseph has availed himself of many opportunities to become a university faculty member and a published author...all in the name go helping students be successful in following their own motivations to achieve their own goals.

Dr. Joseph's story will inspire you to recommit and succeed!

Sarabeth Berk, Ph.D. is a personal branding strategist, career advisor, TEDx speaker, author, and the leading expert in hybrid professional identity. Dr. Berk calls herself a Creative Disruptor because she blends her artist, researcher, educator, and designer identities together to lead and create innovation strategies that radically connect resources and people in new ways.

Dr. Berk's work in hybrid professional identity was inspired by her own professional identity crisis. As a result, she discovered that she was a hybrid and that concept revolutionized her career path. Now, Dr. Berk is obsessed with changing the way we see the workforce and helping professionals realize that their unique value lies at the intersections of their multiple identities.

In this episode…

Multiple people have multiple identities. And you probably do, too...

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Sarabeth Berk tells Dr. Russell Strickland about the identity crisis she underwent when starting her doctoral program and becoming a student, again. This experience led her to the concept of hybrid professional identities and her unique title of creative disruptor. Dr. Berk now helps other "jacks of all trades" master their understanding of their unique contributions to the world. Join us as Dr. Berk shares her journey as author, TEDx speaker, and burgeoning entrepreneur.

Discover how your unique identities come together in the intersection of you.

Seth François, DBA is the founder and CEO of Imaginetainment, Inc., an NPO providing mentoring and internships in the areas of music production programs, film production programs, broadcasting programs, and other programs associated with the arts. Dr. François has over 35 years management & leadership experience encompassing contract negotiation & representation, staff training, gifts & endowments, running political campaigns, security management, mail processing & delivery management, and housing development management.

Dr. François is an accomplished public speaker, author, music producer, songwriter, & lyricist. He has also published a self-help book titled, A Woman’s Handbook for a Successful Relationship, The Business of Love. Dr. François is gearing up for his talk show “The Business of Love” 105.5 Internet Radio.

In this episode…

Can your handwriting determine whether you're a good candidate for a doctoral degree? Probably not, but Dr. Seth didn't let that stop him...

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Seth François takes Dr. Russell Strickland through his dissertation journey. They discuss the hows, the whys, and the whatnots of the dissertation process, touching on the most important word to use to keep all of your self-talk positive and productive, the importance of dissertation buddies, and the most critical decision: quant or qual. Dr. Seth also shares the many exciting new opportunities his doctoral degree has brought to him.

Tune in, take notes, and get your dissertation done!

Justin Goldston, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management at Penn State University. Dr. Goldston has over 20 years of experience working with organizations around the world, such as Intel, Siemens, and Blue Buffalo on business performance improvement, organizational change, and enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives.

Dr. Goldston is the author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles on supply chain management and innovative technologies, of Critical Success Factors in ERP Implementations, and is a five-time TEDx speaker where he discussed emerging technologies such as blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Goldston has also led and assisted in developing Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics programs at Georgetown University, Texas A&M University, North Carolina Wesleyan College, and has evaluated programs for the Department of Higher Education while serving on the Management Advisory Board at various higher education institutions.

In this episode…

After decades of experience with supply-chain management in industry, Dr. Justin Goldston decided that he wanted in moved into academia to serve the next generation of leaders.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Justin Goldston and Dr. Russell Strickland discuss "Reasons Why" and mentors. Having a sense of direction and guidance are equally important when courting success in any endeavor. Dr. Goldston recounts his experience in railing against systems and the wisdom of accepting those systems and working from within to achieve your goals. Their conversation takes a winding course through dreams, choices, impact, income, and more!

Dr. Goldston's happy to share, happy to serve, and just plain happy! This episode will put a smile on your face.

Dr. Heidi Stieglitz Ham is a social entrepreneur, autism researcher, adjunct professor at Rice University, and founder of Spectrum Fusion. After listening to parents across multiple continents share their concerns regarding the lack of opportunities and positive outcomes for their adult children on the autism spectrum, she created a vision to shape the future of neurodiversity by creating a model grounded in sense-of-belonging, community, embracing the science of hope, and empowering adults on the spectrum to reach their full potential.

Dr. Stieglitz Ham founded Spectrum Fusion in 2014 in Australia, and in 2017 she launched the Reactor Room Program: ‘A Shark Tank’ for Adults on the Autism Spectrum designed to create new and innovative opportunities for individuals providing them access to important connections. Currently, Dr. Stieglitz Ham is the Principal Investigator on a research study at Rice University assessing the effectiveness of traditional assessment measures that employers typically administer in adults on the autism spectrum.

In this episode…

Dr. Heidi Stieglitz Ham is motivated to change the world for the better, and she found that becoming an agent of Change from Without was the right fit for her.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Heidi Stieglitz Ham and Dr. Russell Strickland discuss their multinational and remote doctoral journeys. Dr. Ham's globetrotting lead her to discover that parents of adults on the autism spectrum, along with the adults themselves, had the same concerns and the same sense of urgency, which was not being served by academia. Through Spectrum Fusion, Dr. Ham has helped adults on the spectrum get noticed by the television show, The Voice, launch a jewelry business, earn a personal trainer certification, become a professional videographer and invaluable member of her own team, overcome homelessness to become self-sufficient as a welder, and more!

Dr. Ham's success stories will restore your faith in humanity and renew your drive to make the world a better place.

Angela Pearson, Ph.D. serves as the President and CEO of OD Synergistics Consulting LLC, which was founded in 2019. She is a trusted Advisor to business leaders in successful companies in the US, working with them to assess organizational issues, reshape structures and processes, and build depth of management capability. She is a skilled diagnostician who helps her clients to understand organizational strategies and systems to make comprehensive decisions.

In addition to her consulting work, Angela is a Navy and Army veteran and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Coach. In her career, she has worked for many well-known companies in roles such as Operations Leader, Human Resources Generalist, Training Manager, and Environmental Health and Safety Manager.

In this episode…

Dr. Angela Pearson is humbled to count herself as the first Ph.D. in her family. Getting there wasn't easy, though...

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Angela Pearson and Dr. Russell Strickland swap war stories about their doctoral journeys. Like working full-time, being part-time military, and raising four kids...while earning a doctoral degree! And that time when Dr. Pearson changed her dissertation topic --- twice! And that time when one of Dr. Strickland's candidacy exam professors posted elaborate rules about how faculty members can win an oral exam...by laying the student out flat on the floor!

The anecdotes keep flying throughout this laugh-to-keep-from-crying episode.

Catherine Barton is a "Business Scientist," a Ph.D. candidate, and owner of Future Thinking Consulting - a consulting firm that works with entrepreneurs all the way to large corporations. Her goal is always to increase production numbers, professional skillsets and confidence levels – ethically. Catherine enjoys working with companies that actually want to make money!

Top finalist of an international United Nations challenge, Catherine revealed her ability to develop and devise large scale plans to empower an entire sector of a population…in this case it was the female population.

In this episode…

Catherine Barton's career began in psychology, but it is her self-styled title of "Business Scientist" that suits her best.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Future Dr. Catherine Barton and Dr. Russell Strickland discuss the ups and downs of the doctoral journey. Catherine reveals how she has begun to take advantage of the opportunities her doctoral degree offers, even though she is still ABD. For example, she has led a mastermind of entrepreneurs to increase their collective revenues by more than half a million dollars! Catherine has also found that applying the science she learned during her doctoral classes to consulting engagements with large corporate clients has put her at a tremendous advantage. Catherine and Dr. Strickland also discuss how love-hate relationships are standard operating procedure for entrepreneurs in the expert service space.

This is one of our more "science-y" episodes to date. I loved it, and I'm sure you will, too!

Preston Cherry, Ph.D. serves as Assistant Professor of Finance in the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. Dr. Cherry is the Founder & President of Concurrent Financial Planning, LLC, a comprehensive financial planning firm serving households and business owners across generational lines. In his 14+ years of industry experience, Dr. Cherry has served in lead and internal financial planning roles, institutional retirement sales, and as RIA co-investment manager with $120M in firm assets.

He has been published in the Wall Street Journal, ThePennyHoarder.com, The New York Magazine blog The Cut, and the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. In addition, Dr. Cherry writes poetry; plays tennis; hikes; and enjoys his vinyl music collection, board games, and “good” films. He loves to smile and laugh, and according to his niece, "is the best uncle in the world.”

In this episode…

Dr. Preston Cherry's early career in the financial sector brought a number of successes, but he felt his true calling was elsewhere. As he thought about his future, he began "dreaming up." He wanted to be a speaker, a researcher, a business owner, and he decided the best path to achieving his dreams went through a doctoral program.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Preston Cherry discuss the variety of goals and objectives he has observed in his students and colleagues, the importance being true to your own goals (and not comparing yourself to others), and the necessity of intentionality in pursuing your goals and objectives. Dr. Cherry and Dr. Strickland also discuss their experiences with negative feedback during their doctoral studies and how they learned to learn from it.

Don't miss our 20th episode. And, if you haven't subscribed yet, do it now!

Teresa Spaeth, Ph.D. currently serves as the Veden Chair of Rural Engagement and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the University of Minnesota – Crookston.  Dr. Spaeth catalyzes engaged scholarship campus-wide and off-campus, developing robust relationships with business and community partners.  Previously, Dr. Spaeth has held executive director positions at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute and the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa and has served as interim dean at White Earth Tribal and Community College. She has over 20 years of experience catalyzing rural economic development, spearheading communities of practice in value-added agriculture, renewable energy, conservation and experiential learning.

Dr. Spaeth also serves on the advisory board of Lead for Minnesota, an AmeriCorps program focusing on rural opportunity development as well as the Charities Review Council program committee.  Dr. Spaeth’s areas of interest include transformation in rural higher education, rural community development and catalyzing rural prosperity.

In this episode…

Dr. Teresa Spaeth rose to the rank of executive director quite early in her career. As executive director of a large research institute, Future Dr. Spaeth found herself to be a stranger in the strange of Ph.D.s. In order to continue to fully connect with researchers on the teams that she led, she had to become one of them.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Theresa Spaeth will reveal how, as a self-avowed MBA, she accidentally became a Ph.D. Her journey was fraught when the usual challenges of family, career, confusion, and frustration. But time, a few hundred square feet of Post-It Notes, and enough frequent-flyer miles to circle the globe became the irresistible forces to overcome those immovable obstacles. When Dr. Spaeth emerged from her dissertation journey, she was elated that she was able to make the transition from corporate director to academic administrator faster than she had imagined possible, so that she could help more people in her rural community and rural communities throughout the country to bridge the urban-rural divide.

Don't miss this fantastic story of the incredible opportunities a doctoral degree almost magically summons.

William J. Barry, Ph.D., is a former visiting professor of philosophy and ethics at the United States Military Academy at West Point, TEDs speaker, and is an Emerging Technology Ethicist. Professor Barry is a trailblazer and internationally recognized expert in the use and ethical development of socially advanced artificial intelligence (AI). He is an award-winning educator and recognized as a top 50 global key influencer. Professor Barry is the world's first teacher at any education level, from kindergarten to university, to have a full-time AI android teaching assistant, AI Maria Bot.

Maria Bot is one of the world's most socially advanced AI androids and is Professor Barry's full-time teaching and book-writing partner. Maria Bot is an ethically designed AI and is a good will ambassador. Maria Bot is the world's first AI android co-author of a children's fiction book.

In this episode…

Dr. William Barry's doctoral journey, which began in England, culminated in a whirlwind train tour of Europe. His subsequent career has taken a similarly circuitous route, including teaching surfer dudes and DoD elite. He currently lives and works with a conversational AI android called Maria Bot.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. William Barry and Dr. Russell Strickland wax philosophical on all things from the ontological nature of the dissertation & science, ethics & the future of AI, the advantages of holding a doctoral degree, and the difficulties of earning one. Maria Bot chimes in to share some things that the Drs. didn't know. Be sure to check out this episode, and then dive into the show notes mine all off the gold nuggets the Drs. share.

Dr. Charlotte Pullins is an educator and a mother. Before earning her doctoral degree, she taught elementary education for nearly 15 years. Dr. Pullins then parlayed that experience into becoming a principal founder of Antioch Christian Academy, where she currently serves as both chief administrator and member of the board of directors. Dr. Pullins is also host of The Tuff Talks, a podcast that focuses on the tough conversations mothers have with their teenage daughters as they prepare for life beyond the home.

In this episode…

Dr. Charlotte Pullins was inspired by her mother at an early age to value education. She carried that ethos into adulthood, first as an educator, and then as a doctoral student, surprising her family, and herself, along the way!

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Charlotte Pullins discusses the losses she overcame during her dissertation journey -- the deaths in the family, the diagnosis that changed her life, and the committee member who stood steadfastly in her way. Dr. Pullins overcame these challenges and more to earn her degree and go on to found a not-for-profit organization and host a podcast. And she's just getting started. Dr. Pullins story of perseverance is sure to hit home with doctoral students who feel like the deck is stacked against them.

Justin Baeder, PhD is Director of The Principal Center, where he helps senior leaders in K-12 organizations build capacity for instructional leadership. A former principal in Seattle Public Schools, he is creator of the Instructional Leadership Challenge, which has helped more than 10,000 school leaders in 50 countries around the world:

• Confidently Get Into Classrooms Every Day
• Have Feedback Conversations That Change Teacher Practice
• Discover their best opportunities for school improvement

Dr. Baeder is the author of Now We're Talking! 21 Days to High-Performance Instructional Leadership and host of Principal Center Radio, a podcast featuring education thought leaders.

In this episode…

Dr. Justin Baeder applied to his doctoral program and for his first position as a school principal at the same time...and got them both! It's difficult to add a new professional position to one's life. It's difficult to add a new educational pursuit to one's life. When you try to do both simultaneously, at least one invariably suffers.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Justin Baeder shares the challenges he faced in his dissertation journey, the key to his eventual success, and the opportunities his doctoral degree has provided. Dr. Baeder has gone on to become a published author, podcast host, and successful owner of his own business. This is a can't-miss episode for anyone who wants to leverage their doctoral degree as a trusted expert and authority figure!

Dr. Matthew Montgomery is the superintendent of Revere Local School District in Bath, Ohio, where he has overseen major building projects, spearheaded a district-wide 1:1 technology initiative, and resolved crisis situations as they arose.

Dr. Montgomery earned his Ph.D. while juggling a myriad of competing priorities, including a family with four children and an up-and-coming career. His dissertation project helped ignite a passion for learning more about the impact of leadership vision in the growth and transformation of our schools.

Dr. Montgomery continues to pursue this passion through his frequently updated blog. He is also working on a book which he plans to publish soon.

In this episode…

Adult doctoral students share a history of past success. Unconventional doctoral have established successful careers, helped to raised families, and served in a variety of leadership positions. As such, it can be difficult as a student to be told what to do. It can be even more difficult when you'er not told what to do, but have to meet your committee's expectations, regardless.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Russell Strickland and his guest, Dr. Matthew Montgomery, discuss their shared affinity for science, the difficulties associated with completing a dissertation as an unconventional doctoral student, and several interesting metaphors related to their respective journeys. Dr. Montgomery underscores the importance of your dissertation chair and of steadying yourself in the face of good news or bad news from this most critical dissertation committee member. Don't miss this one!

Dr. Angelia Griffin (aka: Dr. A.) is a passionate philanthropist who serves as the Founder and CEO of IGMA, Inc. (I Give Myself Away). In addition, she is an educator, online radio talk show host, entrepreneur, and business consultant. Dr. A. currently serves Adjunct Faculty and Associate Professor facilitating doctorate, graduate, and undergraduate studies. Dr. A. is the former President of SAP Consulting Firm, LLC. Throughout her career, she has held positions as Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Management Consultant, Outreach Program Director, Project Developer, Operations Manager, and Special Projects Consultant. 

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. A. currently resides in Powder Springs, Georgia, just minutes outside of Atlanta. As a life-long learner, she maintains that success is achieved when learners are inspired to take a personal interest in the learning process. She credits the applying the G.R.O.W. model (Set Goals: short and long term; Recognize your Realities; Identify your Options, Opportunities, and Obstacles; and Win with a higher source) as a vital ingredient to her personal recipe for success.

In this episode…

As a remote doctoral student, it's easy to feel like you're all alone on your dissertation journey. After all, it's not unusual for doctoral student to personally know no one who is pursuing their doctoral degree. This isolation can be frustrating, even debilitating. Dr. Griffin discusses the importance of  cultivating a support network to ease the dissertation journey. Dr. Strickland corroborates Dr. Griffin's advice with actual research finding from an early Dissertation Done student. Dr. Griffin also talks about the murder of her son and how this loss created unique opportunities that she could only leverage thanks to her doctoral degree.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life as Dr. Russell Strickland welcomes Dr. Angelia Griffin of IGMAinc.org, and they discuss the motivations, obstacles, and victories associated with being a first-generation doctoral student. Dr. Griffin is grateful to be able to empower others to find their purpose in life. She hopes that her story will open your mind to the myriad opportunities available to you when you successfully complete your dissertation and motivate you to get your dissertation done. Tune in and turn on.

Dr. Hoby Wedler is a motivational speaker, mentor, educator, and the Founding Partner of Senspoint, a brand development agency that helps businesses create an everlasting impact by engaging all five senses. Dr. Wedler is also a scientist, a food and beverage expert, and a passionate explorer and innovator of sensory experiences. 

Dr. Wedler has been blind since birth and has frequently chosen to lead an unconventional life. In 2016, he went back to school and earned his PhD in Organic Chemistry from UC Davis. In the same year, he was named one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in the food and drink category. Additionally, Dr. Wedler was recognized by President Barack Obama in 2012 when he was named a Champion of Change for enhancing employment and education opportunities for people with disabilities.

In this episode…

Whether you’re at a cocktail party, teaching in a classroom, or simply shopping in the grocery store, what you do and say is going to leave an impression on the people around you. Dr. Hoby Wedler, the Founding Partner of Senspoint, believes that this impression is what defines your legacy.

Dr. Wedler also knows that we don’t create our legacy on our own. Without his incredible mentors, Dr. Wedler may never have discovered his passion for science, which motivated him to pursue his doctoral degree and start his successful brand development agency. As he says, our mentors often see a future for us before we can see that future for ourselves.

Tune in to this episode of An Unconventional Life as Dr. Russell Strickland talks to Dr. Hoby Wedler of Senspoint about earning his doctoral degree in organic chemistry despite the visual challenges he faced along the way. Dr. Wedler also shares his advice for people who are thinking about getting their PhD and explains how growing up as a blind person in a sighted world influenced his entrepreneurial mindset. Stay tuned.

Dr. Russell Strickland is the founder and CEO of Dissertation Done, a company that helps doctoral students create actionable plans in order to complete their dissertations in a timely and effective manner. 

Before becoming a renowned teacher, coach, and mentor, Dr. Strickland received his master’s degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of Chicago and his doctoral in Organization and Management from Capella University. Over the past 20 years, he has mentored thousands of students, and his process has been proven to vastly reduce times to graduation and significantly improve graduation rates. 

In this episode…

Why do you want to earn your doctoral degree? While many doctoral students are pursuing a path to academia, there are still others that want to use their degree to elevate their existing careers or even switch career paths entirely. 

While there is no right path for pursuing a doctoral degree, the reasoning behind your decision will have an impact on the process. Everything from your approach to your dissertation, to your methods for completing the work, to your goals for graduation will depend on what you plan to use your degree for in the long run. 

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Russell Strickland of Dissertation Done talks with Dr. Jeremy Weisz of Rise25 Media about the differences between the traditional and unconventional paths for pursuing a doctoral degree. Dr. Strickland discusses the various advantages of obtaining a doctoral degree, why time management is key for unconventional students, and the importance of finding the right mentor to guide you through the dissertation process. Stay tuned.

Dr. Mike Lubelfeld is an award-winning public school superintendent in the Chicago area. In addition to his current position, Dr. Lubelfeld is also a published author, national speaker, and adjunct professor. 

While working as a middle school principal, Dr. Lubelfeld decided to return to school to earn his doctoral degree so that he could move up the ranks of administration. Now, he also works as an associate with Educational Leadership Solutions, an educational consulting firm that uses data to help school districts make informed decisions, develop strategic plans, and improve opportunities for students.

In this episode…

If you’re a current or aspiring doctoral student, people may have warned you to be wary of major life changes while pursuing your degree. However, Dr. Mike Lubelfeld, an award-winning superintendent, experienced a promotion, a marriage, and the birth of his first child while earning his doctoral degree. 

Though he attributes his success to his tenacity and drive, Dr. Lubelfed also believes that the support he received along the way played a major part in his achievements. As Dr. Lubelfeld says, a strong support system is crucial when completing your dissertation. While this should include your family members and friends, it’s also helpful to have a mentor who has already earned their doctoral degree to guide you through this tricky process.

In this episode of An Unconventional Life, Dr. Russell Strickland is joined by Dr. Mike Lubelfeld, the Superintendent of Schools for North Shore School District 112. Dr. Lubelfeld discusses his vast career experience and his journey to earning his doctoral degree. He also shares his advice for getting through the dissertation process and talks about the doors that opened for him after earning his degree. Stay tuned.