News Release

Deployed Airman Earns Wilmington University Doctorate through Ed Tech and Wi-Fi

One-of-a-kind program and personal perseverance led to successful online dissertation defense while on active duty in Middle East.

United States Air Force Captain Michael Rajchel was not about to let his active deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq stop him from earning his doctoral degree in business administration from Wilmington University. 

Rajchel has been in the Air Force for six-and-a-half years. He started working on his DBA through the University's one-of-a-kind, online program in the fall of 2011. Although it was admittedly difficult at times, he remained fully committed to meeting his goal of obtaining his doctorate in 2014. His time and effort paid off on December 3 when Rajchel successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in a presentation using Blackboard Collaborate, a comprehensive online learning and collaboration platform specifically designed  for education.  

“Wilmington University has been extremely supportive,” Rajchel said. “I can’t say I know of anybody else who’s been offered the opportunity to defend overseas in what is literally a war zone.  It's meant a lot of sacrifices, a lot of long nights and a lot of lost weekends, but it was definitely worth it.” 

1150 AM WDEL assistant news director Amy Cherry was on-hand at the Wilson Graduate Center during one of Captain Rajchel's technical run-throughs prior to his actual presentation. She featured Rajchel's story in her weekly "Education Watch" feature on WDEL. 

Using Blackboard Collaborate, a program similar to Skype with picture-in-picture video, Cherry interviewed Rajchel. She was impressed with the sophistication of the educational technology at Wilmington University.

"It’s amazing!" said Cherry. "Wilmington University's use of technology and Blackboard Collaborate enables people in the military like Captain Rajchel in getting a jump start on their future careers instead of waiting until they're discharged and return home to pursue a degree.

"Wilmington University's innovative program makes it possible formembers of the military to get advanced degrees and doctorates while they're overseas, thousands of miles away. This is a new way of thanking our troops for their service," Cherry added.

Rajchel's successful defense of his doctoral dissertation means that he has already received the title of Doctor of Business Administration. When he returns home in March following his deployment, Rajchel plans to accept his degree in person at the University's May commencement. 

“There were times of frustration, but at no point did anyone at Wilmington [University], in my family or any of my co-workers make me feel like I could not do it," mused Rajchel. "This would not have happened a few years back. This would not be possible without technology."

Click here to see Captain Rajchel Doctoral Defense: Live from Iraq.

About Wilmington University

Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit institution committed to providing flexible, career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Ranked as the second fastest growing doctoral institution in America 2002 – 2012, by The Almanac of The Chronicle of Higher Education, affordable tuition, academic excellence and individualized attention are hallmarks of the University that enable greater student success in their chosen careers. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit our website: www.wilmu.edu.

Published: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 - New Castle, DE