University of Phoenix Honors Four Doctoral Researchers for 2026

The College of Doctoral Studies selected winners across four distinct disciplines: education, health administration, business administration, and management. Dr. Tamara Betz earned the distinction in education for her study on teacher burnout, while Dr. Rosann Hamilton was recognized in health administration for her research on emotional intelligence among Jamaicans. In the business and management categories, Dr. Paul David White III and Dr. Sheila-Marie Mofield were honored for their work on employee compensation and VA prosthetic leadership, respectively.

Hinrich Eylers, vice provost of the College of Doctoral Studies, noted that the awards highlight the university’s focus on practitioner-scholar research. The recipients completed their work while balancing professional responsibilities, often tackling complex systemic issues. For Mofield, whose research into VA healthcare was inspired by her own family history, the award validates a lifelong commitment to improving outcomes for veterans. Similarly, Betz, who returned to academia after a 13-year hiatus, emphasized that the recognition provides her findings a platform beyond the university, with her work now slated for publication in the University of Chicago Schools Journal. The four scholars will be celebrated during the 13th annual Knowledge Without Boundaries Summit, scheduled for October 22-23, 2026.