Executive DBA

Executive DBA classes meet once a month on weekends (Friday-Saturday) to accommodate your professional schedule. With a flexible hybrid format, you have the option to take up to 45% of courses online. Each class session follows a dynamic seminar format, fostering high levels of interaction between students and the professor, as well as lively engagement among the students themselves.

Crummer’s EDBA program utilizes a cohort model that fosters deep personal and professional connections among students, creating a supportive network that strengthens both learning and collaboration throughout the program and beyond.

The Executive DBA orientation will be held in-person for one Wednesday – Saturday period in August during the first year.

Along with having 10 years of work experience, Crummer’s EDBA students bring a rich diversity of professional backgrounds to the program, enhancing the learning experience with a wide range of perspectives and expertise. This varied mix not only enriches class discussions but also fosters a more comprehensive understanding of complex business challenges.

Crummer’s EDBA program attracts impressive people who have achieved success in a variety of fields and want to accomplish even more. Students typically pursue their EDBAs for one or more of the following reasons:

• To accelerate their careers in business or non-profit organizations
• They own a business and want to be a more effective executive.
• To share their knowledge and experience by teaching in business schools, now or in the future. 
• They are already teaching in a business school and want to gain credentials and expertise to prepare them for better teaching or administrative roles.
• They want to establish their own consulting practice or consult within their organizations as respected advisers in their area of expertise.
• They supervise or work with people who have doctoral degrees and want to gain credibility and expertise to effectively interact with their subordinates and colleagues.
• To continue their self-development, gain new skills and confidence, and enhance their executive presence. 
  • To precisely define problems and use rigorous research methods to find the answers. 
  • To better understand and communicate with outside consultants and experts within their organizations. 
  • To ask the right questions of these experts and not be oversold or misled. 
  • To clearly and persuasively communicate with all types of audiences in their professional and personal lives.
• To join a network of successful EDBA alumni who can support and challenge them as they pursue their goals.  This network also includes Crummer’s large and highly engaged network of MBA alumni who have been prominent members of business, non-profit, and government organizations for over six decades.

Taught by leading professors with substantial experience, our courses embrace the “engaged scholarship” model, diving into topics that seamlessly blend theory with cutting-edge business practice. Every class is designed to ensure that your learning is not only impactful but also instantly applicable to real-world challenges.

Alum Melissa Dennis ’20DBA found the model not only a beneficial instructional style for herself as a student, but also something she wanted to emulate when she taught classes: “The engaged scholarship model was a natural integration of what I wanted to be as a learner and as a faculty member.”

Every Executive DBA student will have a trusted, knowledgeable faculty advisor for the duration of their three-year program who will help guide them through the dissertation process, starting with selecting a topic. Students are encouraged to explore a multidisciplinary topic that is both highly applicable and of personal interest.

Dissertation Process

Upon completing your coursework, you’ll partner with a faculty committee of two esteemed members who will guide and support you through each stage of the research process. Alongside their mentorship, you’ll also benefit from a dedicated course designed to provide additional insights and resources for your research journey. When your committee is confident in the strength of your work, you’ll present your final defense virtually—and with that achievement, you’ll earn the distinguished title of Doctor!

Crummer’s Executive DBA program equips students with the advanced research, analytical, and presentation skills necessary to transition from executive leadership to academia. By combining practical business expertise with scholarly rigor, the program prepares graduates to effectively teach, mentor, and inspire the next generation of business leaders. With a focus on applied research and teaching excellence, Crummer graduates are uniquely qualified to excel as executive professors in academic and corporate education settings.

Alum Vera Alves ‘21DBA not only enjoys how teaching lets her interact with students, but the great potential impacts she makes: “The content we discuss with students in class will impact not only their leadership trajectories but also those they will lead throughout their careers. There is an exponential potential to impact lots of people’s lives.”

Dan Napoli, co-founder and co-owner of software companies specializing in warehouse automation and robotics, conducted his dissertation research on “Building Trust Between Cobots and Human Workers in a Warehouse Environment.” Leveraging insights from his research, such as the critical role of formal training to ensure safe and effective cobot interactions, Dan is committed to sharing his findings within the industry, further establishing his role as a thought leader in warehouse robotics and automation.

Thomasa Sanchez is the founder and President of McCormick Research Institute, which uses equine-assisted therapies to assist veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and people with special needs.  Thomasa’s dissertation, “Saddling Up for Success:  Rope or Wrangle?  Comparing Experiential Learning Programs for Developing Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace,” evaluated the effectiveness of an equine-assisted training intervention and compared it to a ropes-challenge-course training.  She found that both types of training improved participants’ emotional intelligence.  Her research benefited both her organization and the field of equine-assisted therapy by providing evidence of its effectiveness.