Caelin Bragg
Lantern Staff
Doctorates come in many forms, the most common type people know of is the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), but there are other ones that are awarded. Tiffani Price, an associate dean of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) department, is currently working toward her Doctor of Education (Ed.D).
Price’s first teaching position at Butler was in hospitality management classes, specifically accounting principles. The classes focused on how to run hotels and restaurants. Before taking up that teaching role, Price worked in the financial aid department starting in 2001.
“My passion truly did lie in hospitality management, restaurant management [and] hotels,” Price said. “I loved the hospitality industry. I started working in the hospitality industry when I was 16 years old, [and I] managed a restaurant in Wichita and actually did not know at that time that you could get a degree in hospitality management. That is why I went towards the business aspect and if I wouldn’t have been driven and loved education, I probably would have been in the hotel industry.”
Price is from Dallas, Texas originally and was in high school show choir. After graduating, Price went to Butler to be a Headliner. After staying at Butler for two years, Price went on to Friends University for another two years and earned a bachelor’s in business administration.
“My high school show choir director actually started the Headliners at Butler,” Price said. “Her husband transferred [to Dallas], she came [with him] and was our show choir director in my high school. When we would compete in contests, we would go north. We would complete all over the United States. We would come through Butler sometimes and be judged by the Headliners.”
After leaving Friends, Price went on to Baker University and earned her master’s in business administration. Following her master’s degree, Price stayed at Baker and started her Ed.D in leadership in higher education.
“My dissertation is talking about the faculty development that we’re offering to our faculty, is it actually impacting our student engagement and retention,” Price said.
“Throughout the components of the actual doctorate program, we had opportunities to learn about the budgeting, administration, student services, all of the leadership aspects that you would be exposed to in higher education.”
Price grew to love the community college setting as she worked in the financial aid department and wanted to continue working and growing, which was her inspiration for continuing her education through to a master’s and then her Ed.D as higher levels of employment require those degrees.
Price has submitted her Ed.D for review and will defend it by the end of the month.