The obligatory I'm done thread

This afternoon, I completed my dissertation defense with my committee at Capella University. My dissertation, "An Exploratory Study of Why Soldiers in a National Guard Battalion did not Reenlist After Deployment to Iraq" was accepted without revision.

I had a fantastic committee that critiqued, supported, and gave timely feedback along the way. I couldn't have asked for a better committee.

During my conference call, I thanked the most important person throughout this process, my wife. She kept things going at home while I was deployed, and throughout the PhD journey (not easy to do with 7 kids!)

Thanks to all of you for your stories, support, and the occasional rant.

Dr. Shawn

 

Congrats! Don't forget to update your signature

 

Great news! What are the next plans?

 

Congrats! And the obligatory 'What's next, Doc?' <chomping carrot>

 

Eh, what's up, Doc?

 

Congratulations Shawn!

 

Congrats...don't forget to change your signature.

 

Well done, and as a member of the National Guard I would love to read the dissertation. Sounds like a very interesting topic.

Way to go!

Now take a little break will ya?

 

Congrats, Shawn!

 

When are you going to change that signature line?

 

What's your next big thing after the doctorate?

 

So what's next...

First off, chi-migwech (thank you) for all of the support and messages. So what's next...

1. I'll change my sig line once the degree is conferred within a few weeks.

2. My committee is screaming for me to publish the dissertation. I plan to present the dissertation at the IUS-Canada Conference in Toronto in October. After the conference I'll submit the paper to Armed Forces and Society (AF&S). My outside reader, Paul Camacho, is an associate editor for AF&S. He's going to assist me in the process.

3. The next educational pursuit is supporting my wife. She has put her education on hold while we did the family thing (7 kids while hubby worked, played Army, went to school, etc.). She has credits from BYU-Idaho and Shippensburg University. If we put her credits together, she's 4 courses away from an AA from Charter Oak. Since we're familiar with Charter Oak, we're probably heading that route for my wife. (My 17 year old daughter plans to graduate with an AA in July before "going to college" at Southern Virginia University in the Fall).

4. I plan to stay at my nice little tribal college in Northern Wisconsin. I'm going to be the Interim Academic Dean come May (our current academic dean just accepted a position as Provost at Gateway Community and Technival College in Covington, KY - and she's a Capella PhD grad also). I hope we find a new one quick - I want to teach!!

Again, thanks for the support.

Shawn

 

Congratulation

Your actions inspire many others especially me with 3 kids at home and hubby in the Army and a dog who wont potty outside, Im very happy for you its not an easy but not impossible

 

Congratulations!!!

Job well done!

I'm with you on not changing your signature line until it's official.

 

Outstanding job, Shawn! Congratulations to you.

 

I'm so proud of you!! An excellent accomplishment Dr Ambrose!

 

Shawn,

Congratulations! ...and best of luck for the future.

 

Congratulations, Dr. Shawn!

Well done and best wishes.

Roscoe

 

What sort of ritual hazing shall we subject Shawn to, now that he's completed his doctorate?

 

Hehe...I like the way you think, Ted