The Value of a DBA: Nelson Mellitz, DBA Student, Shares His Perspective

At an age when many people think about retiring, 60-year-old Nelson Mellitz was thinking about continuing his education in order to advance his career. As a retired Air Force colonel, adjunct professor, and current consultant with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Nelson was feeling less valuable in the workforce. He knew that earning a doctoral degree in business would allow him to gain the advanced critical-thinking and decision-making skills he needed to stay competitive in his roles. Nelson also knew that a doctoral degree would broaden his global industry expertise so he could become more effective as a leader. Nelson chose to enroll in Walden’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program to help him reach his goals. He is now looking forward to completing his program this April.

What impact has pursuing your DBA had on your career?

I strongly believe that one of the reasons I was offered a position as a manager for one of the top three international accounting firms was because my résumé showed that I am enrolled in Walden’s DBA program. While the coursework is rigorous and requires a considerable amount of my time, the effort is paying off quickly for me.

How have you been able to apply your coursework on a daily basis?

In my discussions at work, as well as with the veterans organization where I volunteer, I am constantly sharing new insights I have gained about leadership, organizational development, and finance. In addition to helping improve my leadership skills and writing abilities, my Walden experience has benefited me as an educator and given me a new perspective and approach to teaching online courses as well as courses at traditional brick-and-mortar institutions.

In your opinion, do you think employers will take notice now that the DBA program is accredited?

When applying for promotions and jobs in the federal government or private sector, recruiters, among other factors, consider your grade point average, university or college attended, and if the degree program is accredited. Now that the DBA program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), our employment applications will be put on an equal status with applications from other universities with accredited programs.