As a 杏吧专区 business graduate, Dr. Dione Davis has a lot in common with the online students she advises.
Although her undergraduate experience may have looked different from those enrolled in the online BSBA in Management program, Dr. Davis knows the juggling act many online students perform, balancing work, school, and personal responsibilities.
Value of Online Education
After earning her Master of Business Administration from UL Lafayette, Dr. Davis earned her doctoral degree through a hybrid program at the 杏吧专区 of Southern Mississippi, dividing her efforts between on-campus courses and online coursework.
杏吧专区淚 truly appreciated that format, given the time in my life that I decided to go back to school 杏吧专区 engaged, kids, working,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淓ssentially, I created a third shift. I杏吧专区檇 go to work and then I was a mother in the afternoons and at night. Then after everyone was in bed, I got to work on my degree.杏吧专区
Having explored economic and workforce development as part of her doctorate, the Opelousas native is especially attuned to the obstacles in earning a degree as a non-traditional student.
杏吧专区淟ooking at the demographics of our program right now, the majority of our students are re-entry or transfer students who are working full time, who have kids, who finally have the opportunity to come back to school,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎s someone who杏吧专区檚 participated in online programs and education, I understand at some point in our lives, it杏吧专区檚 the only way we can afford ourselves with professional development or attaining those goals we sometimes put on the back burner for life and for kids.杏吧专区
Several years ago, Dr. Davis was among the first in the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration to teach courses online, so when she saw there was an opportunity to serve as the academic advisor for the college杏吧专区檚 first , she jumped to apply.
杏吧专区淭o see that the program had grown to the point of being offered fully online was very exciting and I wanted to be a part of that,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎 lot of these students already in the workforce have worked their way up through the trenches and learned as they杏吧专区檝e gone. But our program is going to give them the opportunity to get the degree and make sure they have the tools in their toolbox to be successful and continue growing in their jobs and fields, which I think is awesome.杏吧专区
Homegrown talent
Dr. Davis says she had imagined leaving Acadiana to work for corporate America. But opportunities kept her close to home and close to family.
From 2005 to 2015, Dr. Davis was an instructor within the UL Lafayette Department of Management, teaching business communication.
Since then, Dr. Davis has been raising her three kids while working as a consultant and managing her own business. She was also named one of in 2018. The award honors professionals under 40 who, 杏吧专区渉elp move Lafayette forward through their leadership skills and community service,杏吧专区 according to The Advertiser.
Dr. Davis applies the philosophies she learned in her years of business practice and education to her relationship with UL Lafayette online students and her role within the Moody College of Business.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 still operating in that consultancy role. I always want my clients to have what they ask for and even more,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 more than advising. It杏吧专区檚 strategic planning, ensuring we provide good [student support], and ensuring we meet their needs in a timely manner.
杏吧专区淲e杏吧专区檙e trying to lay a solid foundation so we can see the same growth in this program as we杏吧专区檝e seen in our MBA program online. We杏吧专区檙e competitive in this college; we like to win. We want all of our programs to be at the top of the charts. But it requires a strong foundation, a strategic plan for growth and excellent student support.杏吧专区
High-Quality Program
In business, part of providing excellent service is filling customers杏吧专区 needs with a quality product. That, says Dr. Davis, is like what the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration is doing by providing an exceptional student experience through engaging classes and personal connections.
杏吧专区淲e have a lot of things that work well together to produce a [high-quality program],杏吧专区 Dr. Davis says. 杏吧专区淲ithin the College of Business, we have some of the best faculty members. I杏吧专区檇 put us up against any other 杏吧专区.
杏吧专区淥ur program truly prepares our students for the real-world. We have so many opportunities for research, for them to work with local companies, and to gain the skills necessary to graduate and get into the job market and be successful.
杏吧专区淚t makes us a total package for those interested in business.杏吧专区
And as with many consultant-client relationships, everyone has a role in the outcome.
杏吧专区淥nline students need maturity, discipline, time management skills, the ability to work independently, but also to communicate your needs effectively and in a timely manner,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淵ou have to plan carefully because you have so much else going on in your life.
杏吧专区淲e can give you material, we can give you the books, but you have to possess the internal drive and motivation to get it done. That杏吧专区檚 something that we can杏吧专区檛 give you. You have to come with that.杏吧专区