{"id":18661,"date":"2025-08-07T15:16:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T19:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=18661"},"modified":"2025-10-15T11:49:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T15:49:14","slug":"wilmu-dba-grads-talk-cohorts-commencement-and-the-c-suite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/08\/07\/wilmu-dba-grads-talk-cohorts-commencement-and-the-c-suite\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU DBA Grads Talk Cohorts, Commencement and the C-Suite\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18661_984fed-bd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18661_984fed-bd\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>Considering a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/business\/dba.aspx#intro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Doctor of Business Administration<\/a> degree? Wilmington University\u2019s DBA program will help you make significant management and leadership contributions to your organization \u2014 just ask our recent graduates.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/dr.-gavin-tucker.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Gavin Tucker\" class=\"wp-image-18663\" style=\"width:150px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Gavin Tucker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt really opens the doors to the C-suite level,\u201d says <strong>Dr. Gavin Tucker<\/strong>, the new president and principal program manager of Togl, a fashion industry startup specializing in high-end buttons. \u201cTruly, in every sense of the sentiment, that shiny degree from WilmU quite literally gave me the key to the C-suite!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When comparing schools, Wilmington University \u201cstood out because it offered a fully online, accredited program,\u201d says Dr. Tucker, who lives in Seattle and appreciates how the DBA cohort model fostered collaboration with fellow candidates.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe just became this very tight-knit group, and I think that\u2019s something WilmU does exceptionally well,\u201d he says. \u201cI honestly cannot imagine my life without my cohortmates right now.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A DBA Degree Designed for Working Professionals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dr.-Shola-Bankole-Alale.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Shola Bankole-Alale\" class=\"wp-image-18664\" style=\"width:150px;height:auto\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Shola Bankole-Alale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dr. Shola Bankole-Alale<\/strong> also values \u201cthe incredible power of peer support.\u201d At one point, the busy marketing executive and mother of three considered quitting the DBA program, but another mom in her cohort encouraged her to persevere.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou don&#8217;t have to do that. Let&#8217;s hold hands through the process,\u201d Dr. Bankole-Alale remembers her friend saying. \u201cAfter that call, I just got stronger and stronger. I was determined to complete the program.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At commencement, family members were \u201csuper excited for me,\u201d she says. Her teenage daughter told friends, \u201cMy mom is a doctor now!\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A vice president of credit card marketing at JPMorganChase, Dr. Bankole-Alale began her banking career in Nigeria. She moved to the United States in 2017 and completed her WilmU MBA less than two years later.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have this sense of accomplishment and belonging here at WilmU,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s not about earning the degree only. It\u2019s about the community, everybody coming together.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Tucker agrees, calling the DBA program \u201cvery intentional,\u201d from his supportive cohort to WilmU\u2019s caring professors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThroughout this process, they were my coaches, and they did a fantastic job,\u201d he says. \u201cI would not hesitate to recommend WilmU to anyone.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18661_4b9dfe-71{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; 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.wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18661_8207bb-c0 &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18661_8207bb-c0 p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18661_8207bb-c0 kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Looking for a transformative business degree? Wilmington University\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/business\/dba.aspx#intro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Doctor of Business Administration<\/em><\/a><em> program blends theory with practice, helping you develop critical knowledge and skills to enhance your success.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Considering a Doctor of Business Administration degree? Wilmington University\u2019s DBA program will help you make significant management and leadership contributions to your organization \u2014 just&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18662,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1032,1025,72,1033,14,15],"class_list":["post-18661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-business","tag-college-of-business-technology","tag-dba","tag-management-administration-degrees","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"ACADEMIC NEWS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":1032,"label":"Business"},{"value":1025,"label":"College of Business &amp; Technology"},{"value":72,"label":"DBA"},{"value":1033,"label":"Management &amp; Administration Degrees"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/dba-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Mckayla Imperatrice","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/mckayla\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","slug":"academic-news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":559,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":460,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":460,"category_description":"","cat_name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","category_nicename":"academic-news","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":1032,"name":"Business","slug":"business","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1589,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1025,"name":"College of Business &amp; Technology","slug":"college-of-business-technology","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1582,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":72,"name":"DBA","slug":"dba","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":629,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1033,"name":"Management &amp; Administration Degrees","slug":"management-administration-degrees","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1590,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":291,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18661"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18661\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18667,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18661\/revisions\/18667"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}