DBA Faculty & Staff

I am delighted to welcome you to our course! My name is Dr. Jamie Birdwell, but please feel free to call me Doc or Dr. B. As your instructor, I’m thrilled to embark on this journey of learning and discovery with each of you.

A bit about myself—I bring nearly two decades of classroom experience coupled with a decade in the business world as an Executive Vice President in a global manufacturing company. My academic journey has been diverse, with a Doctorate in Business Administration focused on Organizational Management and Leadership, and master’s degrees in organizational leadership and management as well as education. My background also includes degrees in English, music, and business/leadership. This mix of practical and theoretical expertise allows me to uniquely bridge real-world applications with academic insights.

Teaching, for me, is all about fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment. It’s not merely about transmitting information but rather providing you with a foundation of theories, concepts, and empirical material that you can directly apply to your personal and professional life. I believe that learning is a collaborative process, and I look forward to not only teaching but also learning from you.

In our online setting, my goal is to keep our classroom lively and interactive. You’ll find that our sessions are designed to be engaging and conducive to everyone’s success. I encourage you all to participate actively, share your experiences, and make the most of our time together.

Outside of the professional sphere, I enjoy traveling, reading a wide range of books, and spending quality time with my family. These personal passions also inform my teaching, as I bring a broad perspective to the material we will cover.

I am excited to get to know each of you as we progress through the course. Please feel free to reach out via email at JXBirdwell01@indianatech.edu with any questions or to share insights as we move forward.

Let’s make this educational experience one of growth and success for all. Welcome aboard!

Warm regards,

Dr. Jamie

Welcome to the DBA program!

My name is Dr. Joyce C. Boyd, and I am excited to be your instructor for this course. I look forward to engaging with you as we explore key concepts and practical applications in business administration at the doctoral level.

As you begin this journey, I understand that you may have questions about the course material, assignments, or expectations. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time via email or phone for clarification.

For general questions that may benefit the entire class, I encourage you to post them in the Course Q&A forum. However, if you have a personal question, such as one related to grades, please email me directly.

I am here to support you, and I look forward to an engaging and successful semester with you all.

Welcome to the Indiana Tech University Doctorate of Business Administration program! It is my great pleasure to greet you as you embark on this transformative journey of advanced study and leadership in the world of business.

As you begin this exciting chapter, you will find that our program is dedicated not only to rigorous academic research but also to fostering a collaborative community where innovative thinking and practical solutions thrive. You are about to join a network of scholars and professionals who share a commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and impactful leadership.

Throughout your time here, you will encounter challenging coursework, immersive research opportunities, and vibrant discussions that will expand your perspectives. I encourage you to embrace every opportunity to question, learn, and contribute your unique insights. Your experiences and ideas will not only shape your own academic path but also enrich our collective understanding of complex business issues.

Indiana Tech University is proud of its long-standing tradition of academic excellence and community engagement. As your professor and mentor, I am here to support your academic and professional growth, help navigate the challenges ahead, and celebrate your successes along the way.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or concerns. I am excited to see the innovative contributions you will make in the field of business administration and to witness the impact of your research on industry practices and policies.

Once again, welcome to the program. I look forward to an inspiring and productive journey together.

Warm regards,

Dr. Ed Carrillo
Doctorate of Business Administration Program
Indiana Tech University

Dr. Dawson has over 25 years of direct patient care experience as a family physician working in diverse contexts such as hospitals, including obstetrics, emergency rooms and outpatient care. Her passion is in helping vulnerable communities improve health through primary care and public health initiatives. Her experience in healthcare administration includes incorporating lean processes, change management, population management, integrated care, the patient-entered medical home and value-based care to improve patient outcomes. She has implemented electronic medical records systems and other technologies strategically to integrate data sharing and connect care systems for patients and provide them with effective continuity of care, including recognition as Fort Wayne’s first level 3 patient-centered medical home (PCMH) in 2013. 

Dr. Dawson serves internationally, partnering in medical care, administrative services, and training for family medicine residents and medical students in Kenya, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Burundi and Bangladesh, spending 9 years working internationally and 16 domestically. She authored six manuscripts, including original research articles on primary care workflow, and served on National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine committee, publishing comprehensive findings regarding sickle disease. 

Welcome! I am Dr. Edward Haberek Jr., and I serve as Adjunct Faculty in the DBA in Global Leadership. With over 30 years of experience in corporate leadership, academia, and business, I bring a real-world perspective to our learning. My background includes working with Fortune 500 companies like Becton Dickinson and DuPont and serving in leadership roles in higher education.

My teaching philosophy is centered on practical application, critical thinking, and engagement. Learning should be interactive and relevant, preparing you for success beyond the classroom. I encourage open discussions, questions, and collaboration, and I’m here to support your academic journey.

Dr. Sherrie Lewis is a manager, educator, and researcher.  Dr. Lewis’ experience includes experience in retail management, training and development, and management education. Throughout her career, Dr. Lewis has been dedicated to bridging the gap between academic research and real-world business challenges.   

Her educational experience includes a B.A. in Mass Media Arts and an M.B.A. from Hampton University. Her doctoral journey includes a D.B.A from Grenoble Ecole de Management.   

 In addition to her professional endeavors, Dr. Lewis is an accomplished academic, serving as an adjunct professor at Indiana Tech where she mentors future business leaders, conducts innovative research, and shares insights that drive meaningful change in the business world.  

Dr. Lewis has presented her research at national and international conferences and has been published in several business journals.

Welcome to the DBA Program at Indiana Tech! I am thrilled to have you as part of this academic journey and look forward to an enriching and engaging experience together.

As you embark on this program, you will develop critical thinking, research, and leadership skills that will prepare you for success in both academic and professional settings. This program is designed to challenge you, expand your knowledge, and provide opportunities for meaningful discussions and practical applications.

I encourage you to stay engaged, ask questions, and actively participate in discussions. Your insights and contributions are invaluable, and I am here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need guidance, please do not hesitate to reach out via email or during office hours.

I look forward to working with each of you and making this an inspiring and transformative journey. Let’s make this a successful and rewarding experience!

Best regards,
Dr. Orlando Rivero
Indiana Tech, DBA Program

I’m Dr. Armando Salas-Amaro, and I’m excited to serve as your instructor this term. With a background as an accounting executive, accomplished higher education administrator, business faculty member, and entrepreneur, my extensive professional experience in business leadership, accounting, taxation, and financial services provides unique insights into managing organizations. I have had the privilege of working in both academic and professional settings, which has provided me with unique insights. I am passionate about applying what we learn in the classroom to real-world situations and am committed to helping you succeed.

I look forward to connecting with each of you throughout the term as we work together to deepen our understanding. Whether you’re here to expand your knowledge, refine your skills, or take the next step in your career.

Let’s make this term productive and meaningful!

Greetings! I have been teaching at Indiana Tech since 2016, focusing on global leadership development, global talent management, and international leadership research courses. During this time, I have also served on numerous dissertation committees and have led global practicums. I genuinely enjoy the close working relationships we are able to build with students and our focus on excellence in academics and professional practice. I am a proud recipient of the Faculty of the Year award in 2019 and 2021 for the Ph.D. program.

My full-time role outside of Indiana Tech is serving as a Director of Leadership Strategy for Accenture. My role allows me to provide executive assessment, strategic leadership advisement and coaching to senior executives and their teams within leading corporations around the world. My career background is in corporate leadership development and talent management within Fortune 500 organizations, as an external consulting partner to them, and as an executive education partner at universities. I have worked with diverse audiences in North America, South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.  I have depth of experience in Latin America, having studied and worked in Spain, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru. I’ve also held several faculty roles in global leadership Ph.D. programs and graduate business leadership programs. My Ph.D. research focus was in global leadership development methods. After graduating from University of Denver, my post-doctoral fellowship was at Thunderbird School of Global Management in the Najafi Global Mindset Institute, where I worked alongside world-renowned professors and researchers in Global Mindset.

My research tends to focus on global leadership development and cross-cultural management.  I frequently present my research at academic and professional conferences (ILA, AOM, SHRM, ATD, HCI, etc.) and in publications (Journal of Management Education, Advances in Global Leadership, HR People & Strategy Journal, SHRM We Know Next, Inside HR Magazine, etc.). I have co-authored three books: Developing Your Global Mindset: The Handbook for Successful Global Leaders; Teaching Methods in Business: Experiential Exercises in the Classroom; and Handbook of International and Cross-Cultural Leadership Research. Current research activities include serving as a CCI for the GLOBE U.S.A. research team, exploring the effectiveness of international immersion experiences for global leadership development, and examining the motivations, obstacles and success strategies of women leaders.

Hello! I joined Indiana Tech’s staff in 2024. My previous experiences include the military and Corporate America. I have held positions in Corporate America as Shift Supervisor, Quality Engineer, Quality Manager, Human Resources Manager, and International Human Resources Director. In addition, I have an entrepreneur at heart and have owned several businesses.

I have been teaching in higher ed part time since 1993 when I was invited to teach a Human Resource Management course. Since I have a passion for teaching I started teaching full time in 2011.  I use my practical experience and education to make a very interesting classroom. I have taught face-to-face courses, synchronous and asynchronous online courses, accelerated courses, and traditional courses in both undergraduate and graduate levels.

My undergraduate degrees are in business management.  I also have a MS degree in I/O Psychology and a DBA with a specialty in management.  In fact, I have over 190 graduate courses including research methods, statistics, business analytics, psychology. management, strategic management, human resources management, human resource development, and organizational behavior. My decades of real-world corporate and entrepreneurial experience, combined with my education help me be very efficient in the classroom.