“When I was a child, I wanted to be a doctor,” says LoShay Willis ’18 Ed.D. “But I was thinking a medical doctor. Having my Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership is even more special. This degree identifies me as a person of integrity and a good leader.”
LoShay did begin her professional career in healthcare as a respiratory therapist. Eight years into that career, she received an opportunity to be a lab coordinator at Indiana University. She quickly moved into a full-time teaching position and also served as director of clinical education. When the university discontinued the program, she found a similar position at Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC).
For the next six years, LoShay served as a full-time faculty member at MVCC. When her department chair decided to retire, she applied for the position. “My dean told me that she could see me going places in my career,” LoShay recalls. “She also told me I needed a doctorate degree to keep advancing.”
LoShay served as department chair for one year and then applied for the assistant dean position when that position became open. She had also applied to the Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership (Ed.D.) program at Olivet. Because she prays about everything, she prayed about both opportunities. The job offer and the acceptance letter came to her almost simultaneously.
“After the excitement, my first thought was: What am I getting myself into?” LoShay says. “Starting a new position. Starting a doctoral program. I had three busy kids. Is this a good idea? I prayed about it. I also realized that my dean was in her doctoral program. So, I knew I had a leader who understood the type of support I would need. My husband told me to go for it and that he would support me 100 percent.”
Understanding The Journey
LoShay advises prospective doctoral students to choose a program that aligns with their personal mission and values. She resonated with the emphasis on covenant leadership and Christian beliefs in Olivet’s program. She also knew some co-workers who were already in the program, and they spoke highly of their student experience.
Another of her concerns was her writing ability. As a mathematics and science person with a background in healthcare, would she be able to write at a scholarly level? She found that in Olivet’s program, the faculty and staff were there to support and encourage her.
Anxiety about how and when she would write her doctoral dissertation also concerned LoShay. She discovered that in Olivet’s program, writing the dissertation is embedded in the program. Research and writing for her dissertation were part of the classes she took.
For LoShay — and for many prospective doctoral students — the time needed to complete the degree requirements while holding down a full-time job, raising children and being married seems like an impossible hurdle. “Dr. Jeff Williamson, who is an awesome professor in Olivet’s program, gave us a light bulb with ‘168’ written on a piece of paper inside it,” she says. “I still have it. This is a reminder that there are 168 hours in a week. After sleep and work, we have 72 hours left for what we need to do. We have to set our priorities. This was a rigorous program, and I had to miss out on some events I wanted to attend. I reminded myself that I made this decision and that there will be more events and activities to attend in the future.”
New Leadership Opportunities
LoShay completed her Ed.D. degree at Olivet in 2018. Today, she serves as the dean of career programs at Moraine Valley Community College. She is also a board member for Advance Financial Federal Credit Union and vice president of the board of directors for the Thea Bowman Leadership Academy.
“As a student in Olivet’s Ed.D. program, I learned the type of leader I am and also that I don’t have to fit into one box of leadership,” LoShay says. “Understanding who I am as a leader has increased my confidence in leading.”
Learn more about Olivet Nazarene University’s graduate degree programs at Olivet.edu/academics/graduate-programs. For more information or to enroll, email onlineadmissions@olivet.edu or call 877-465-4838.
