phd project name

PhD Projects – What is it & how to do one

When researching for your PhD program, you may encounter terms such as PhD projects, thesis, and more. What is a PhD project?

In this post, we explore what a PhD project is, and how is it different from say, PhD thesis and dissertation. We also look at what PhD students do to complete their project. 

What Is A PhD Project? What’s The Aim?

Diving into a PhD project is like embarking on a grand academic adventure at a university. It’s not just about getting that coveted title but about pushing the boundaries of knowledge in your chosen field.

The heart of a PhD lies in its project, a rigorous exploration led by you, the doctoral candidate, under the mentorship of seasoned faculty members.

A PhD project is usually documented down as a dissertation, thesis, or other research papers that would contribute to the current body of knowledge.

Imagine working on a project that not only challenges you intellectually but also has the potential to transform how we understand a particular phenomenon.

A PhD in economics might dissect the intricate dance of market forces and policies, providing fresh insights that could inform better decision-making in corporate America or even shape public policy.

The PhD project isn’t a solitary journey. It thrives on diversity, drawing strength from a rich tapestry of backgrounds and perspectives.

Recognising the value of this diversity, initiatives like The PhD Project, founded in 1994, have been pivotal. They aim to:

• increase the representation of minority groups in business schools,
•  enriching the academic environment and, by extension,
• the corporate landscape.

Through unique events and a robust support network, including partners like LinkedIn, these initiatives empower doctoral students, providing scholarships and resources to navigate the academic world.

These efforts underscore the importance of bringing historically underrepresented voices into academia.

By fostering a more diverse faculty, universities can inspire and educate the next generation of leaders, ensuring that the classroom reflects the diversity of the workforce and the customer base it serves.

What Do a PhD Student Do In A PhD Project?

When students are in their PhDs, they perform a myriad of tasks. Here are some that they do, as they complete their PhD programme: 

In-depth Research

At the core of a PhD project is the pursuit of new knowledge. Students engage in: 

• rigorous investigation,
• analyzing data, and
• exploring vast literatures to uncover novel insights in their field.

Whether it’s deciphering historical manuscripts or applying complex mathematical models, this foundational activity is where innovation begins.

Building a broad and diverse network is crucial.

PhD students connect with peers, faculty, and professionals across various platforms like LinkedIn, and at academic conferences.

These connections provide support, foster collaborations, and open doors to opportunities in academia and industry.

Guided by experienced professors, PhD students receive invaluable:

• direction, and

This mentor-mentee relationship is pivotal, offering insights from seasoned academics who’ve navigated similar paths and can share the nuances of academic and professional development.

Academic Writing

Crafting a dissertation is a monumental task that hones a student’s writing prowess. This extensive document encapsulates their research findings and contributions to the field, requiring clear, concise, and compelling communication.

PhD students spend hours learning how to write good academic writing. This is usually achieved by:

• Attending workshops
• Fixing drafts reviewed by more experienced academic
• Reading many research papers.

Presenting at Conferences and Seminars

Sharing research with the academic community is a key aspect of a PhD project. In fact, most PhD programs require their students to present papers.

Students present at conferences, engage in scholarly debates, and receive feedback, enhancing their research and building their reputation.

Many PhD students also take on teaching roles, leading undergraduate or graduate courses. This experience is not just about imparting knowledge but also about inspiring and guiding future generations, honing their own skills in communication and leadership in the process.

PhD Project vs PhD Dissertation

A PhD dissertation is the essence of your doctoral journey, distilled into a single, substantial document. It’s the narrative of your PhD project, a tale of discovery, challenge, and innovation.

In the world of academia, this dissertation is your passport to the realm of scholars. It’s where you present your research findings, meticulously compiled and critically analyzed, to your university and the wider scholarly community.

A PhD project as a voyage across the vast ocean of your field, where you chart unexplored territories and navigate through the complexities of your research question.

The dissertation, in contrast, is the logbook of this journey, capturing every eureka moment and every storm weathered. Faculty mentors, often guide you in weaving this narrative, ensuring your story not only contributes to academia but also enriches the diversity of thought within it.

This is where the potential to inspire the next generation of researchers lies, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic academic workforce.

PhD Projects Explained

A PhD project is a comprehensive research endeavour undertaken by doctoral students to contribute new knowledge to their field. Its aim is to develop critical thinking, research skills, and subject-matter expertise, culminating in a dissertation that showcases the student’s findings.

Through this rigorous process, PhD candidates are prepared to become the next generation of scholars, educators, and leaders, capable of addressing complex challenges and advancing their disciplines.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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PhD Management of Projects / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in a discipline directly relevant to the PhD (or international equivalent).

Other combinations of qualifications and research or work experience may also be considered. Please contact the admissions team to check.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

In your application you’ll need to include:

• The name of this programme
• Your research project title (i.e. the advertised project name or proposed project name) or area of research
• Your proposed supervisor’s name
• If you already have funding or you wish to be considered for any of the available funding
• A supporting statement (see 'Advice to Applicants' for what to include)
• Details of your previous university level study
• Names and contact details of your two referees.

Programme options

Programme description.

Research in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering covers six broad research themes ; aerospace engineering, innovative manufacturing, modelling and simulation, nuclear engineering, resilient systems, and structures in extreme environments.

Our postgraduate research programmes in Management of Projects offer the opportunity to study in a multi-disciplinary team alongside leading academics in the field.

Drawing on our expertise in conflict and dispute resolution, risk management, contracts and procurement, supply chains and inter-organisational relations and sustainable development we drive innovative solutions to promote successful project management. We have strong links with industry and excellent employability. Visit our research projects page to browse our range of currently available projects. 

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £4,786; Band B £7,000; Band C £10,000; Band D £14,500; Band E £24,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Band A £28,000; Band B £30,000; Band C £35,500; Band D £43,000; Band E £57,000
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Band A £2393; Band B £3,500; Band C £5,000; Band D £7,250; Band E 12,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The programme fee will vary depending on the cost of running the project. Fees quoted are fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for Home students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit the postgraduate fees page .

Always contact the Admissions team if you are unsure which fees apply to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.

To be considered for many of our scholarships, you’ll need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor. Therefore, we’d highly recommend you discuss potential sources of funding with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and make sure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more information about our scholarships, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

Contact details

The School of Engineering creates a world of possibilities for students pursuing skills and understanding. Through dynamic research and teaching we develop engineering solutions that make a difference to society in an ethical and sustainable way.  Science-based engineering is at the heart of what we do, and through collaboration we support the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to become technically strong, analytically innovative and creative. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Management of Projects in Engineering

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 04 January 2019

Six project-management tips for your PhD

• Angel Santiago-Lopez 0

Angel Santiago-Lopez is a PhD candidate at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

In my experience, a PhD project sometimes feels like it demands more time than is possible — especially if you were hoping to maintain a healthy work–life balance. In my view, every graduate-school curriculum should carry a course on project management.

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Nature 573 , 153 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-07860-6

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PhD Project 101: The Truth about choosing PhD Project Topics

Blog summary.

A PhD requires distinct skill sets from a master’s and a bachelor’s. The biggest obstacle for PhD candidates is choosing a project subject or problem statement. This blog article aims to inform readers about how to select and complete their PhD projects. Your inner motivation and areas of interest should be the top considerations while selecting your specialization. Never start a PhD program without getting clarification on the research labs you should choose. For application alerts, while enrolled in your master’s program, register with PhD Portals. Select an interest-provoking subject, then read everything there is to know about it. A successful thesis requires adhering to the “Write, Rewrite, and Write” cycle.

How Do I Choose a PhD Project?

What makes a good phd project, tips to apply for a phd project, tips to write your phd thesis, why tsl-ucn, start your journey to obtaining a phd.

Pursuing a PhD, unlike your master’s or bachelor’s program, demands altogether different skill sets. You have a fixed set of subjects with some open elective and core-elective to study in those programs. But in a PhD program , you are aware of your stream of study like computer science, management, finance, humanities, etc.

But the PhD project topics on which you carry out research are wide open. You are supposed to narrow down to a particular thesis topic idea or field of study. Selecting a PhD project topic or problem statement is the biggest challenge for PhD students. This blog post attempts to educate scholars on selecting a PhD project of their choice and completing it.

Choosing a PhD project topic is the primary work in pursuing a PhD program. It is not like choosing an undergraduate or postgraduate program. It demands patience. So, take your time.

Next, you should be in a position to decide what type of PhD project you want to pursue. Broadly there are three types of PhD projects:

• Advertised PhD projects
• Self-proposed PhD projects
• Professional Doctorates

The Advertised Projects are common in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM) . Research groups and Well-established laboratories offer these programs.

The Self-proposed projects are common in the Humanities and Arts arena. Here, you are free to choose a thesis topic as long as it falls in the purview of a research topic.

Professional Doctorates in vocational subjects like Business and Management awarded to practitioners are not academic qualifications.

A PhD project should, first of all, have a clear goal. So, it starts with a proposal. A PhD proposal is a clear and concise document illustrating the problem statement and the goals of your work. It should also highlight why it is worth pursuing?

A typical PhD project involves Five steps:

• Identifying a problem statement
• Carrying out a comprehensive literature review
• Conducting Original Research and finding out results
• Producing a Thesis that documents your results
• Writing the thesis and taking up Viva-Voce 

Tips for choosing a PhD project and topics

Here you have two sets of Tips:

• Tips to Apply for a PhD project and choosing a PhD project topic

1. Be Aware of Your Niche

Just because you are a computer science postgraduate and AI or Data Science is the trend; You needn’t select these areas. What matters is your interest and inner drive that should be the priority in choosing your niche.

2. Your Comfort Level to Relocate to Another City

Once you have identified your niche and the University/Research Labs, you may have to relocate to a new city. Make up your mind to relocate and also be decisive in making your choice.

3. Identify the Departments and Research Labs Succinctly

You are supposed to conduct a lot of research before boiling it down to a particular Department or University. This is a necessity as it is crucial to identify your core interests and ideas.

4. Obtain Clarity from Your Research Supervisor

Never dive into a PhD program without seeking clarity about the Research labs you are supposed to join. If it is a funded project, get clarification about all facts that are not obvious. Have one to one discussion with your Research Supervisor over Skype or any messenger to seek clarity regarding questions like,

• How many people work in the lab?
• What are their designations?
• Are you supposed to collaborate with any of them?

5. Register with PhD Portals to Get Application Alerts

During your Master’s Program, register with online portals that provide information on PhD programs offered by various Labs and Universities. This helps you to be informed about itineraries of multiple institutes.

6. Seek Seniors and Teachers Help

Ignorance is the biggest culprit that sinks your career ship. Regardless of how small your doubt is, get it clarified from your professors and seniors. Discuss issues like how to formulate an email, cover letter, resume, and other application procedures.

7. Understand the Team Well

It is not only the project that should create enthusiasm; it is also the team you will be working with. The team is vital to complete a project. Before diving into a project, try to understand whether you can get along with your teammates. 

8. Different Types of Funding Exists

When you apply for funded projects, you often come across various types. Some are not funded, while some are competition-funded also. Your enthusiasm for getting into the project plays a vital role in the supervisors picking you in competitive funding. So, Love your work to the core. 

9. Always Apply for More than One University/Institute

Prepare as many applications as possible and shoot them to different institutes. This process provides a wide array of experience in how to draft an application and approach the institutes. Such skills will help you in the long term.

10. Failure is the Stepping Stone to Success

You might fail once or twice in getting shortlisted or fail to perform in the interview. The number of interviews you have faced will help nurture your interpersonal skills.

Below are the general tips any PhD scholar should follow to be successful.

• While choosing a PhD project topic most crucial parameter is to rely on a topic that is interesting for you.
• Thoroughly read everything about the topic.
• Find a theoretical basis to support your idea.
• Be prepared to shift gears as the research progresses and your presumptions about the outcomes change.
• Be open to taking inputs from others to fine-tune your views.
• Formulate a committee of researchers,
• Be diligent in gathering data.
• The Panache for Effective Thesis Writing is Follow ing the “Write, Rewrite, and Write” Cycle. It doesn’t matter if your writing is good or bad; take tips from professional writers online. Most importantly, Good writing is all about Editing again and again. So, never feel daunted by Thesis writing; enjoy every bit of it.
• Sit with your Research Supervisor and prepare well-structured content with a Table of Content adequately defined. Regardless of being an expert writer or novice, your first draft always needs tweaking. Never be disheartened by re-editing work patience is key here.
• Thesis Writing needn’t be boring and monotony work. Bring in flair to your writing by inserting adjectives, says, expert writers.
• A chronologically written thesis is a misconception. As soon as you complete a piece of experiment or research, document it neatly when it is fresh in your mind. Later it can be integrated into the Final Thesis as per the Table of Contents.
• Once you research and write a chapter, take a break and come back with a critical perspective to discover possible mistakes. This always helps. Do not write in a marathon-style take breaks.
• Plagiarism is the biggest enemy of any research document. Whenever you quote an existing work, paraphrase properly and provide references and citations. 
• All universities have their Templates and Preferred Style of References . Religiously stick to the guidelines given by your university.
• Follow the same house style of spellings does not club “-ize” with “-ise” styles. If you prefer to use “improvize,” use it in all places, do not mix up with “improvise.”
• While quoting from other sources, ensure that you do not make spelling mistakes. Copy the quotes exactly.
• Your thesis is the window to showcase both your professionalism and research abilities to the outer world. Work with diligence and give it a professional appeal.

Taksha Smartlabz in association with the University of Central Nicaragua (TSL-UCN) provides various PhD programs with an advanced blended learning system that is designed with working professionals in mind. It provides the opportunity to study from anywhere and at any time.

Taking up a PhD project involves various steps. Initially, you have to identify the domain of your interest and apply for a university or research lab. On getting selected, get involved in the meticulous work of carrying out research, documenting your findings, publishing papers, coming up with thesis work, and defending your work in research gathering.

The process of selecting your PhD project is the most crucial step in the entire process. Understanding whether you are looking out for Advertised/Self Proposed PhD projects or Professional Doctorates is vital in the initial stages.

Enroll now, to reap the benefits of this program, and obtain a PhD in your niche.

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Through conferences, mentoring, and networking, The PhD Project encourages and supports historically underrepresented candidates on their journey to acquiring a PhD. We are a critical bridge between businesses and our alumni PhDs and their students, providing connections to high-potential recruits. With demonstrated success in creating more diverse business faculty, we are doing more than transforming the face of business education. We are inspiring new generations of future leaders, bringing diversity to our workforce, and creating a better world for all of us.

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Living the dream a new generation of minority business school professors, following the dream, is this for me, sacrifice… or investment, finding a balance, living the dream, paying it forward creating tomorrow’s leader in business through academe, leading the way, changing the face of business education, changing the face of business research, influencing undergraduates, impacting the community.

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The flagship event for The PhD Project is our annual conference for potential doctoral students. At this 2-day conference, you can network with doctoral students, business school representatives, professors and sponsor organizations, all in one place.

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The Academy of Management partners with The PhD Project, an organization that provides historically underrepresented students in the U.S. a model for achievement in academia to enrich the talent pipeline. Through partnerships, networking, mentoring, and unique events, The PhD Project helps these students earn PhDs so they can inspire and educate the next generation of business leaders.

The PhD Project was founded in 1994 with the goal of diversifying corporate America by diversifying the role models in the front of classrooms. 

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Advancing together: the phd project and aom's collective impact on representation in management, more than 750 aom members graduated from the phd project, “it was because of the phd project that i even had the inkling that i could do this.”  miles davis, member since 2012, phd: george washington university, president: linfield university.

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RIT graduate pursues Ph.D. across time zones

Nastaran Nagshineh, center, defended her Ph.D. thesis at RIT in April. Faculty from RIT’s Rochester and Dubai campuses served on her thesis committee and include, from left to right, Kathleen Lamkin-Kennard, Steven Weinstein, Nathaniel Barlow, and David Kofke (a professor at the University at Buffalo). Mohamed Samaha participated remotely and appears on the video screen behind the group and alongside Nagshineh’s picture.

Nastaran Nagshineh is one of the first Ph.D. candidates to bridge RIT’s Rochester and Dubai campuses. Her accomplishment creates a path for future students at the university’s international campuses.

Nagshineh completed her Ph.D. in mathematical modeling while working full time as a mathematics lecturer at RIT Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, teaching as many as five classes a semester. She described her Ph.D. journey as “an exercise in perseverance” due to competing demands and long days. Rochester is eight hours behind Dubai, and the time difference meant many late-night classes and meetings.

“I saw this collaboration as an opportunity, rather than as a challenge, because my primary adviser, Dr. Steven Weinstein (RIT professor of chemical engineering), and my co-adviser, Dr. Mohamed Samaha (RIT Dubai associate professor of mechanical engineering), both have the same area of research interest,” she said. “They both worked toward my success.”

Nagshineh is one of 67 RIT Ph.D. students who defended their thesis this academic year and who will earn their doctorate. RIT awarded 63 Ph.D. degrees in 2023.

In 2020-2021, RIT’s Graduate School met and surpassed the university’s goal of conferring 50 Ph.D. degrees during an academic year. That number will continue to grow as students cycle through the seven new Ph.D. programs that RIT has added since 2017, said Diane Slusarski , dean of RIT’s Graduate School.

Meeting these goals puts RIT on a path toward achieving an “R1,” or research-intensive designation, from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning. RIT is currently ranked as an R2 institution . Many factors go into changing a university’s status, including research investment and maintaining a three-year average of 70 Ph.D. degrees awarded per year, according to Slusarski.

“We have met the goals of the strategic plan, and now we look forward to contributing to the research innovation in the future,” Slusarski said. “We want to help the new programs thrive and win national research awards.”

RIT’s emphasis on high-level research is seen in Nagshineh’s Ph.D. work. She applies mathematical modeling to the field of fluid dynamics. Her research has been published in top-tier journals and has gained notice, said Weinstein, her thesis adviser.

Weinstein describes Nagshineh’s accomplishments as “a testament to a fantastic work ethic and commitment” and is inspirational to younger students at Rochester and Dubai.

“The collaboration between RIT Dubai/Rochester has continued,” he said. “Another paper was submitted a few weeks ago with Mohamed Samaha and Nate Barlow (RIT associate professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics) as co-authors, as well as Cade Reinberger, a younger Ph.D. student in my research group.”

Mathematical modeling is one of RIT’s newer Ph.D. degree programs, and Nagshineh is among its earliest graduates. The program has doubled in size since it began accepting students in 2017, Slusarski said. This past fall, the mathematical modeling program had 35 students, with two graduating this year.

Altogether, RIT has 13 Ph.D. degree programs currently enrolling 438 students, with computing and information sciences accounting for the largest with 117 students. RIT’s other Ph.D. programs include astrophysical sciences and technology , biomedical and chemical engineering , business administration , color science , electrical and computer engineering, imaging science , mechanical and industrial engineering , microsystems engineering , and sustainability .

New programs in cognitive science and physics will launch in the fall.

The growth in RIT graduate education—with more than 3,000 master’s and doctoral students—reflects a demographic change in the student population, Slusarski said. “We have a higher percentage of women in the graduate programs than we have for RIT undergraduate programs.”

RIT’s graduate programs enroll 42 percent women, according to Christie Leone , assistant dean for the Graduate School.

Nagshineh, who also holds an MS in electrical engineering from RIT Dubai, welcomes her role as a mentor to other women students on both campuses.

“As a young woman in an Arabic country, the power of women is often underestimated and undervalued, and I hope to serve as a role model to female students, especially those that question their path,” Nagshineh said.

She plans to continue in her career as a professor and a researcher. “I would like to pursue a research program where I can advise my own students and teach them more deeply.”

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  Alfonzo Alexander serves as chief ethics and diversity officer of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy ( NASBA ) and president of NASBA’s Center for the Public Trust ( CPT ). As chief ethics and diversity officer, Alexander oversees strategic diversity initiatives and ethics compliance for the organization, while facilitating a number of special projects working with the CEO.

Alexander became president of the CPT in January 2012. In his role as CPT President, Alexander oversees this ethics and leadership organization’s day-to-day operations and a growing number of CPT programs. Under his leadership, the CPT has cultivated new partnerships and built programs on nearly 100 college and university campuses across the United States, established Ethical Leadership Certification and Training Programs, and grown its Being a Difference Award Program extensively. Alexander joined NASBA in 2006 as a staff director and vice president of the CPT. It was during this time, Alexander developed the strategic plan for the CPT.  

Alexander is a business school graduate of Tennessee Tech University. He also earned an MBA from Lipscomb University, and completed an Executive Leadership Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Alexander is certified through several organizations as a facilitator and is a certified professional coach through Coach Training Alliance. In 2017, he received the Distinguished Alumni award from Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business, and in 2019, he was featured in the February edition of Southwest The Magazine.

Caryn Beck-Dudley became AACSB’s new president and CEO in June 2020.  She most recently served as the seventh dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. Beck-Dudley also served as dean at the College of Business at Florida State University and as dean at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. Before her academic career, she was an attorney working in commercial and corporate law. In addition to teaching business law, employment law, and business ethics, she has made many public presentations to large and small audiences on a variety of leadership and legal/ethical topics. Her work is published in several journals, including the American Business Law Journal,  where she served on the editorial board. Beck-Dudley served two previous terms on the AACSB board of directors, and served as the FY18-19 Board Chair. She is also the past chair of the ALSB. Caryn interacts frequently with Silicon Valley companies and works with leaders in reimagining how higher education can serve the workforce needs of the future.

Neil Bosland serves as the executive vice president and chief financial and operating officer for AACSB International. As a member of the senior leadership team, Bosland partners with colleagues and provides executive support across the organization to set the strategic direction of the organization and to achieve organizational goals. He provides leadership for the organization’s operations including finance and accounting, administration, and information technology services. He also ensures the organization operates with responsible risk management, internal control, and governance practices to support mission achievement. Prior to joining AACSB in 2002, Bosland held leadership positions in the automotive manufacturing, information technology consulting, and food and beverage industries, and has led teams in the implementation of several enterprise resource planning systems. Bosland is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Florida and New Jersey, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He is a graduate of the Cotsakos College of Business at William Paterson University.  

Crystal Cooke, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, joined the Association in February 2020 and oversees the AICPA’s member facing Diversity and Inclusion team who focuses their efforts on increasing representation of underrepresented populations (e.g. ethnic minorities, women, young members and LGBTQ) in the accounting profession. She serves as one of the leads of the AICPA’s National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion, whose mission includes making diversity and inclusion a priority in the areas of recruitment, certification, and advancement of ethnic minorities. Prior to the Association, Crystal spent 12 years at the Center for Audit Quality where she managed Governing Board operations, financial reporting and budgeting processes, and talent, which included leading efforts around Diversity and Inclusion. She was also employed at KPMG LLP for 7 years as an auditor in their assurance practice in Washington D.C. Crystal holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati. She and her family reside in Bowie, MD.

Rosanna is the Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at LinkedIn. In this role, she is helping realize LinkedIn’s vision to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce. She is lead catalyst for a team that’s on a mission to empower employees, members and customers in realizing their full potential. Our intent is to architect the alchemy of a diverse and inclusive culture that readily enables the power of belonging, for all of our employees, around the world. Prior to joining LinkedIn, Rosanna was Chief Diversity Officer at Cigna, leading the company’s diversity and inclusion center of excellence practice, supporting Cigna’s mission to help customers improve their health, well-being and sense of security. Operating with a customer centric context, Rosanna frames diversity to drive talent engagement, business growth, customer satisfaction and cross-cultural capabilities for Cigna’s employees worldwide. Rosanna attended Harvard College and has been recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the 2012 Top Influential Women in Corporate America. In 2002, she was named one of the country’s leading Hispanic women by both Hispanic and Hispanic Business magazines.  

David is Regional Managing Partner for DHG’s South Region and leads the firm’s Public Company Tax Outsourcing Practice in Atlanta. He serves clients in multiple industries, with a tax practice focusing on business consulting, transaction planning, structure and implementation, tax consulting for public and privately held corporations and flow-through entities, estate tax and succession planning. He offers significant experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, specializing in entity structuring to maximize flexibility and minimize corporate and individual income tax liabilities.   He is a member of the AICPA and GSCPA and serves on Advisory Boards of St. Jude’s Recovery Center and University of Tennessee Dept. of Accounting and Information Management Council and on Boards of Metro Atlanta Chamber, Central Atlanta Progress and Camp Kudzu.

Kurt Heissenbuttel is Head of Talent Development and University & Diversity Recruitment for Fidelity Investments, a private company and one of the industry’s most diversified financial services firms helping more than 32 million people invest their own life savings, 22,000 businesses manage employee benefit programs, as well as providing more than 13,500 financial advisory firms with investment and technology solutions to invest their own 
 clients’ money. Dr. Heissenbuttel leads core areas for Fidelity including Development Programs, Talent Acquisition Programs, Talent, University Recruiting, and Diversity Recruiting. These teams recruit, manage programs, partnerships, and experiences aimed at attracting and developing talent for the firm. He joined Fidelity in 2016 as the Vice President of University Relations. Prior to joining Fidelity, Dr. Heissenbuttel spent his career in academia most recently at Northeastern University in Boston where he held a variety of roles from marketing and programming, to domestic and international recruitment. He led a team of admissions professionals that recruited, selected, and enrolled Northeastern’s undergraduate class. Dr. Heissenbuttel earned a Doctor of Law & Policy from Northeastern University in 2017; a Master of Education in Higher Education from Suffolk University in 2008; and a Bachelor of Science in Sports & Event Management from Johnson & Wales University in 2005.

Yvonne Hinson, PhD, CPA, CGMA, is the CEO of the American Accounting Association. Prior to assuming this role in September 2020, she served as the Academic in Residence for the Association of international Certified Professional Accountants.   She began her accounting career with Arthur Andersen in Charlotte, NC.   After returning to the University of Tennessee to pursue her Ph.D., Yvonne accepted a position with Wake Forest University.   During her over 18-year career at Wake Forest University she served as a faculty member, Director of Graduate Studies, Director of Accountancy and Dean of Charlotte Programs. Yvonne has served on numerous academic and community committees and nonprofit Boards and is a past President of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy and past Chair of the AAA Membership Advisory Committee. She is currently a member of the Federal Government’s Cost Accounting Standards Board, AACSB Accounting Accreditation Committee, AACSB Accounting Accreditation Policy Committee, IFAC Accounting Education Panel and the IFAC Education Directors Panel. Her research has been published in both academic and practitioner journals.   She earned her BS in accounting and MBA from UNC-Charlotte.

  Carolynn Johnson succeeded Luke Visconti as Chief Executive Officer of DiversityInc Media, LLC in May 2019. Ms. Johnson previously served as the company’s Chief Operations Officer and Chief Revenue Officer during which she was responsible for operations, all major corporate partnerships, web properties and events. She was also responsible for sales management, information technology, circulation, business development and the development and execution of the annual DiversityInc Top 50 competition.

For the last 20 years, DiversityInc has been the gold standard of measurement of effective diversity, inclusion and equity strategies. The annual Top 50 competition is regarded as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for equal access and opportunity for all in the workplace. Through its benchmarking and consulting

services, the company advises leaders of Fortune 200 companies and major employers about the pertinent issues related to diversity and inclusion that are directly tied to profitability and competitiveness. Prior to joining DiversityInc in 2003, Ms. Johnson was the marketing coordinator of pharmaceutical and science groups for Advanstar Communications. Prior to Advanstar, she was an account manager at Correct Communications, a full-service marketing and communications agency. Ms. Johnson completed an executive management program at the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College and earned an MBA from Rutgers Business School.

She has been the director of the DiversityInc Foundation, a nonprofit that funds scholarships for financially disadvantaged students, for the past 10 years. She is also on the National Board of Directors at INROADS, an organization that aims to fix the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in corporate America. Ms. Johnson is a Founding Board Member of the Rutgers Business School Center for Women in Business. While completing her MBA, Ms. Johnson was an elected class officer and was a recipient of the Ted Marousas Award for Expanding the footprint of the Rutgers EMBA. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children.

  After becoming a Fortune 500 CMO at 29, Russ Klein has gone on to lead marketing and advertising teams in the C-Suite during the past 30 years for well-known world brands like Dr. Pepper/7UP, 7-Eleven, Burger King, Gatorade, and Arby’s. He’s been named to top marketer lists spanning three decades and recognized by AdWeek as “Advertiser of the Decade” for the 2000s. Under his leadership, his teams have earned scores of industry awards for excellence, he’s credited for ushering in the age of digital marketing and has the rare distinction to have led marketing behind three major turnarounds – each shattering records at the time for both growth and return to shareholders. (Dr Pepper Snapple, Burger King, Inspire Brands [Arby’s])

As CEO of AMA, Russ is charged with its transformation to become the essential community for marketers worldwide. Once nicknamed “Flamethrower” by an industry publication for his penchant for the provocative, he now aspires to be the torchbearer for all marketers at the helm of the AMA. Klein is a Distinguished Alumnus and graduate of The Ohio State University and graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Dr. Sharon Pierson, an adjunct professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey, is proud to represent The Pierson-Milano Family on The PhD Project Board. Sharon earned her undergraduate degree from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, her master’s degree in Curriculum and Teaching, her master’s in Philosophy, and her PhD in History and Education from Columbia University, Teachers College. Dr. Pierson’s historical research of superior, “laboratory” schooling for African Americans during de jure segregation in the South was published by Peter Lang Publishing (2014), ‘ Laboratory of Learning’: HBCU Laboratory Schools and Alabama State College Lab High in the Era of Jim Crow . She has presented her research at numerous academic conferences, such as the American Educational Research Association, History of Education Society, Organization of Educational Historians, and the John Dewey Society Centennial. Dr. Pierson has also contributed chapters in:   Using Past As Prologue  (Information Age Publishing, 2015) and Schools of Tomorrow, Schools of Today: Revisited (Lang, 2016) . Sharon teaches courses in the School of Contemporary Arts at Ramapo and is also a professional speaker and coach.

In the nonprofit sector, Sharon currently serves on the President’s Advisory Council, Columbia University, Teachers College, and also serves as Communications Director and Editor of the Trinity Times at Trinity Episcopal Church in Allendale. Sharon has served as a judge at numerous Enactus World Cup competitions, where undergraduate students from all over the world present their entrepreneurial service projects. She has also enjoyed serving in leadership positions for non-profit organizations, such as the Allendale Foundation for Educational Excellence, Bergen County Academies, the Junior League of Bergen County, and Boy Scouts of America, among others.  

Sandra Richtermeyer, Ph.D., CMA, CPA, is dean of the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She works actively with a variety of professional organizations and is a frequent speaker on professional development, governance, internal control, technology enablement, and performance measurement. Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of corporate governance, accounting information systems, and nonprofit and governmental accounting. She has authored many articles in academic and practitioner publications. Her research publications have featured many topics including technology enablement, enterprise systems, nonprofit accounting, and professional issues for accountants.  

In addition to her academic background, she worked as a CPA for many years in Denver, Colo., with a practice focus on compliance, assurance, and systems implementation. Prior to joining the University of Massachusetts Lowell, she was professor of accountancy and associate dean of the Williams College of Business at Xavier University. Prior to that, she was on the faculty at the University of Wyoming for several years, where she also completed her B.S. degree. She is proud to be a fourth generation Wyomingite, as well as a “Triple Buff” as she received her M.S., MBA, and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.  

Richtermeyer has held many leadership roles in a variety of organizations over the past 20 years. From 2012-2018 she represented IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) on the Committee on Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). She also recently served on IMA’s Diversity and Thought Leadership Pipeline Committee. She was IMA Global Chair from 2010-2011 and also has more than 20 years of service in local, regional, national, and global IMA roles. She is currently on the board of directors of the Ohio Society of CPAs, Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting, 2018-2019 past-president of Beta Alpha Psi International, and immediate past-president of the American Accounting Association (AAA) Accounting Program Leaders Group. She is also currently a member of the U.S. Comptroller General’s Green Book Advisory Council and the United Nations Internal Control Advisory Committee. Richtermeyer has also served on many technical advisory boards for organizations such as Microsoft, Oracle, and PeopleSoft. She is the 2013-2014 Ohio Accounting Educator of the Year and the 2011 American Women’s Society of CPAs Educator of the Year.  

Nancy Rogers serves as president of the Lincoln Financial Foundation, and as senior vice president and head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Lincoln Financial Group. In these roles, Rogers oversees sustainability strategy and practices, corporate philanthropy, and volunteerism. Prior to this role, Rogers was senior vice president of Talent Management and Development, and led programs that advanced the leadership and organizational development priorities of Lincoln. She served as a member of the human resources council responsible for corporate-wide human resources governance. Nancy earned a bachelor of arts in English from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. She earned a certificate in Executive Leadership Development from the Wharton School, a certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from Johns Hopkins University, and is certified in sustainability practices by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.   She serves as president and director of Lincoln Financial Foundation Board of Directors.   Past board service includes Director of Mercy Health System (Finance and Governance Committees), past Commissioner on the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, the Homeless Advocacy Project (Board Chair); Support Center for Child Advocates; Center for Emerging Visual Artists; Philadelphia Dance Alliance; and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.   Rogers is a member of the Forum of Executive Women, the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, and the Conference Board Corporate Contributions Council.   She has been recognized by the National Diversity Council as one of the Most Powerful and Influential Women in Pennsylvania.

Blane Ruschak’s current role includes serving as the President of both The PhD Project and the KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc. (Foundation) where he oversees the strategy and operations for the Foundation which includes the Matching Gift Program, Disaster Relief Fund, KPMG Family for Literacy Fund, the Foundation and the Women’s PGA/Future Leaders program. In his previous role as Executive Director of Campus Recruiting and University Relations, he served on the Professional Partner advisory group for Beta Alpha Psi after completing his three year presidency term, served on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundation for Women in Accounting, and served on the AICPA Pre-certification Executive Education Committee (PcEEC), the Accounting Program Leadership Group (APLG) Board of Directors, and the Board of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy (FSA). He lives in Charleston, South Carolina and works out of the Montvale, New Jersey National Office. Blane attended Rutgers College in New Jersey and graduated with a BS degree in Economics in 1980. He subsequently attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he received a master’s degree in Accounting in 1982.

Becky is a KPMG audit partner in the Miami office. She has more than 20 years of experience providing financial statement and internal control audit services, as well as performance improvement advisory services to financial services and software clients. She is primarily responsible for planning and managing financial statement audits for publicly and privately held companies, reviewing SEC filings, researching accounting technical issues, while also managing and developing engagement personnel. She has worked on numerous debt and equity offerings and is an employee benefit plan resource partner as well as a KPMG national instructor for audit methodology and leadership courses. Becky holds both an MBA and bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida International University. She is a member of the AICPA and is a licensed CPA in Florida and Puerto Rico. Active in her community, Becky is an audit committee member of the United Way of Miami-Dade, and a board member of Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe.

Sabrina White is the vice president of school and industry engagement for GMAC. In this role, she drives value to business school leaders through conferences and convening, partnerships and industry research. White has been at the forefront of GMAC’s efforts to champion diversity in graduate management education, helping more women and underrepresented minorities pursue a graduate business degree. She has worked in the higher education field for more than 25 years and held leadership roles at the University of Maryland and Bowling Green State University. White earned a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in organizational development and training from Bowling Green.

Jen Wyne is the Executive Director of Human Resources for Moss Adams LLP. As the leader of the people strategy and function she is accelerating the firm’s continuing transformation through a passion for mindful leadership, a strong belief in peoples’ ability to grow and develop and innovation.   Since graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1991 with a BBA in Accounting, she has worked in professional services for Arthur Andersen, KPMG and Moss Adams. Jen has extensive experience across the people function including talent strategy and business alignment, talent acquisition, career management, learning & development and total rewards. She feels strongly that by investing in people and their potential an organization can cultivate an environment of possibility, creativity, excellence and authenticity.  

The PhD Project Staff

Blane Ruschak President

Tara Perino Director, The PhD Project [email protected] 201-307-7932

Marie Zara Director of Advancement, The PhD Project [email protected]

Myrna Varner Manager, Members Relations and Communications [email protected]

201-307-7628

Cristina Pazos Manager, Outreach and Program Administrator [email protected] 201-505-6184

Alison Hansen University Outreach Coordinator [email protected] 201-505-6335

Michele Marin Associate [email protected]