Fulton, MO – Graduation is always a special day at William Woods, but this year’s ceremony was particularly special in light of the university’s conferral of the first PhD and DBA in its 155-year history. On Saturday, May 2, the William Woods University School of Business & Technology awarded 7 PhDs and 2 DBAs, marking a new chapter in the university’s enduring academic legacy.

“The School of Business & Technology celebrated its first doctoral graduates, with 5 students earning the PhD in Organizational Leadership, 2 earning the PhD in Business Administration and 2 earning the Doctor of Business Administration. Their dissertation research addressed socially, culturally, and professionally impactful topics, including minority entrepreneurship, small municipalities, athlete populations, and Six Sigma practitioners” said Miriam O’Callaghan, PhD, Executive Dean of the William Woods School of Business & Technology.

In addition to this important milestone, the university also witnessed its largest graduating class since 2020 – with a total of 324 advanced degrees and 356 undergraduate degrees conferred. This is the largest number of undergraduate degrees conferred by the university in over 10 years. Beyond record numbers of degrees conferred, this year’s ceremony was one for the record books as well. 365 graduates received their degrees in-person during this historic ceremony. This is the largest number of graduation ceremony participants in 5 years.

“Commencement is always such a special day. The joy and pride evident on the faces of our graduates and their families is a powerful reminder of why I am in higher education. But this ceremony was especially impactful given the university’s first-ever conferral of PhD and DBA degrees, and the notable growth in our recent graduating classes. What all of our graduates have achieved is nothing short of remarkable, and we are proud of each and every one. Indeed, this was a day I will always remember,” notes Caroline E. Boyer, PhD, Provost of William Woods University.