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Wilmington, DE – On April 30, 2021, Goldey-Beacom College (GBC) announced at its 134th commencement the first graduating classes for the College’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP) programs. “I’m proud of our graduates,” said President Colleen Perry Keith. “They’ve worked hard for their achievements, and I know they will approach the next chapters in their lives with the same passion and diligence.” Dr. Keith continued, “Watching our students graduate gave me an even greater enthusiasm to continue developing strong, new programs that connect the needs of our employers with the knowledge and skills of our workforce.” “Achieving a doctorate is one of the single most impressive academic and intellectual feats in the world,” said Dr. Dan Young, director of the College’s DBA program. He continued, “The realization that you have accomplished what only two to three percent of the American population has ever done brings a certain pride that is very hard to replicate in any endeavor. I am so proud of the three individuals who took on this challenge and battled incredible obstacles – both emotionally and physically – to walk across the commencement stage as ‘Doctors’. Kudos to all of them." Graduates – 2021 Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program: Rev. Dr. Dianne Patricia Alston-Jones – Dissertation: Perceptions of Digital Religion Across Digital Nativity, Gender, and Race in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Born in Philadelphia, PA, Rev. Dr. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Science in Business Administration, both from Wilmington University. Rev. Dr. Jones is the fourth pastor, and first female pastor, of Bethlehem of Deliverance Church in Philadelphia, PA. She is the founder and CEO of The Joshua Achievement Center and the founder and CEO of The Real Deal Food Distribution Center, both in Philadelphia. Her goal is “to create, build and establish an online global presence by shaping, building and establishing entrepreneurship opportunities by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and mimicking characters in scripture that produced prosperity and walked in wealth.” Dr. Kevin P. McAllister – Dissertation: Factors Affecting Performing Arts Attendance for African Americans in Delaware. Dr. McAllister is a native of Beaumont, TX and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Lamar University. He is the procurement leader for the Innovation Center of Expertise (iCOE) with W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. where he leads all procurement, and strategic and tactical deployment within the innovation pipeline. Within the Delaware community, Dr. McAllister is a business owner, a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a trustee of Bethel AME Church as well as a fierce advocate for persons with disabilities. As a Delawarean who is legally blind, Dr. McAllister is the founder of Vision Unobstructed, LLC, a company that engages with business and community organizations to ensure best practices and support persons living with disabilities. He is the first GBC doctoral student inducted into Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. Dr. Sarah A. Smith – Dissertation: Effective Mentoring Programs in Public Accounting: A Qualitative Study Identifying The Impact of Mentoring Programs on turnover Rates of Women in the Public Accounting Profession – Recipient preferred not to submit additional information. Graduates – 2021 Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program: Chelby Hannah McCall Natalie Anne Mickles Nicholas David Sabato Jill Kathryn Slader Atchafala M. Tucker Brent Alexander Wedman Founded in 1886, Goldey-Beacom College has approximately 1,800 students enrolled from 22 states and over 60 nations. The College offers 41 degree options in its graduate and undergraduate programs with majors in psychology, economics, criminal justice, communication & media, human services, English and all areas of business including accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship and finance. Recent program additions include the Doctor of Business Administration program which started in fall 2018 and the M.A. in Counseling Psychology in fall 2019. The B. A. in Human Services and the B. A. in Communication and Media began in fall 2020. The College is committed to connecting its graduates with careers in their respective fields. For over a decade, the College has achieved a 90 percent placement rate for graduates. Goldey-Beacom College is located in Pike Creek Valley, a suburb of Wilmington, Delaware. The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.