Thunderbird at ASU celebrates graduation of inaugural Doctor of Professional Practice cohort

During the spring 2026 convocation ceremony at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, a group of graduates took the stage to celebrate an achievement awarded for the very first time.

The inaugural cohort of Thunderbird’s Doctor of Professional Practice (DPP) in Global Leadership and Management program received their diplomas, marking a defining milestone in the school’s continued evolution as a leader in global education.

Launched in fall 2022, with its first classes beginning in fall 2023, the DPP program was designed to meet the growing demand for advanced, practice-based doctoral education tailored to experienced global leaders. Now, just three years later, that vision comes full circle as the program celebrates its first graduates, with each bringing a distinct professional perspective and a shared commitment to addressing complex global challenges.

“This inaugural cohort represents everything the DPP was designed to be,” said Charla Griffy-Brown, director general and dean of Thunderbird. “These are accomplished global leaders who rose to every challenge this program demanded. Watching them cross that stage was a profound reminder of why it exists and what it can become.”

The inaugural cohort reflects Thunderbird’s deeply international ethos. The graduates hail from across the globe, representing the United States, Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Germany and Indonesia. This geographic diversity enriched the learning environment, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration that mirrors the realities of global leadership.

In total, 11 doctoral students successfully completed the program to walk in commencement exercises this spring — an achievement that speaks to both the rigor of the curriculum and the dedication of the cohort. In December, the rest of the inaugural cohort will graduate, bringing the final number in this first class to 26.

“Their collective journey underscores the program’s emphasis on resilience, intellectual curiosity and applied impact,” Griffy-Brown said. “What distinguishes this cohort is the caliber of their scholarship, as well as the way they brought their full professional lives into the work. In doing so, these T-birds have raised the bar for what practice-based doctoral education can achieve.”

At the heart of the DPP experience are final doctoral projects that bridge theory and practice. The inaugural cohort’s work spans a remarkable range of industries and global issues, including offering actionable insights into leadership, governance and innovation.

The projects showcased a wide range of research interests and practical applications. Participants examined topics such as the governance and equity implications of emerging climate technologies, leadership and workforce integration during major organizational mergers, and the ethical and managerial challenges of operating complex global organizations. Together, the projects highlighted innovative approaches to addressing pressing issues in sustainability, governance and leadership.

Collectively, the cohort’s research and body of work help advance governance models, leadership frameworks, and decision-making tools designed for high-stakes, high-uncertainty environments. The students tackled emerging frontiers such as ethical oversight of advanced technologies, cognitive augmentation through AI, and institutional constraints on leadership in state-owned enterprises, and other timely topics.

At the same time, they grounded their research in deeply contextualized case studies, spanning global health care systems, mega mergers, corporate fraud and international base operations. The research produced resulted in teaching cases and practical insights that reflect the reality that global leaders face.

Together, these projects underscore the uniqueness of Thunderbird’s DPP — a program that produces scholar-practitioners capable of rigorous analysis, original thought and meaningful global impact.

For married couple and military veterans Jaeyoung Jo Jenkins and Kevin Ryan Jenkins, enrolling in the program was a deliberate decision they made together, although it took some convincing.

Ryan, a battalion commander in the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion and Army Reserve officer, had been following Thunderbird's doctoral program long before it launched. A Thunderbird alumnus who earned his Master of Global Management while living in Kuwait, he spotted the announcement on LinkedIn and called within five minutes.

Jaeyoung, a company commander in the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion who had immigrated from Busan, South Korea, was more hesitant.

“He asked me to do this degree with him and I said, I don't want to — I just finished grad school,” she recalled. What changed her mind was the nature of the degree itself.

“He said, this will be different because this is not a PhD. This is a Doctor of Professional Practice. This will be something very interesting.”

She applied, they both got in, and the journey began.

Completing a doctoral program while both served as senior military officers required constant coordination. There were weekends when Jaeyoung was away commanding her unit and weekends when Ryan was away commanding his. During his final year, Ryan was embedded in a major exercise with the First Infantry Division, working in secure areas by day and returning to the barracks at night to write.

Being placed on separate teams throughout the program turned out to be an unexpected advantage.

“We kind of experienced getting two doctorates at the same time,” Ryan said. “We could cross-pollinate ideas from our different teams.”

Both chose to complete eight teaching case studies as their final projects, and they read each other's drafts dozens of times over.

“I read all of her cases about 20 times,” Ryan said. “I'm sick of her cases at this stage.”

The collaboration sharpened both of their work and their habits. Jaeyoung's discipline of finishing assignments well ahead of deadlines gradually wore off on Ryan, a self-described procrastinator.

For Jaeyoung, crossing the finish line became a point of deep personal pride.

"There was a moment here and there that I wasn't sure if this was the right thing for me," she said. "But now looking back, I'm glad I didn't quit."

Beyond academic achievement, the cohort forged meaningful personal and professional connections that defied the constraints of a primarily virtual environment. Delivered through ASU Sync as a live online offering, the program brought together professionals from vastly different industries, time zones, and corners of the world with a genuine sense of community. Through professional seminars, colloquia and flipped classroom sessions, cohort members engaged as true peers, drawing on decades of lived professional experience to enrich every discussion.

Over three years of shared intellectual struggle that included demanding coursework, doctoral defenses, and the competing pressures of senior careers, many formed bonds that extended well beyond the virtual classroom.

Faculty and program leaders note that the strength of this inaugural group has set a high standard for future cohorts, not only in academic excellence but in the spirit of community, mentorship and global citizenship.

“Among the many highlights have been the meaningful professional relationships that emerged throughout the program — an embodiment of our collaborative and human-centered culture,” said Lena Booth, deputy dean of Thunderbird Academic Enterprise and finance professor at Thunderbird. “It has been incredibly rewarding to watch these accomplished professionals grow, not only as global leaders but as a community committed to learning from and supporting one another.”

As Thunderbird celebrates this milestone, the DPP program continues to gain momentum. Applications are open for the next cohort, beginning this August, with a final deadline of July 30.