UT Tyler Announces Inaugural HRD Doctoral Program Cohort

October 21, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan

The University of Texas at Tyler Soules College of Business announced the inaugural cohort of the UT Tyler human resource development in higher education leadership doctoral program.

Designed to prepare scholars and leaders for senior administrative roles in higher education, the 60-credit-hour, 100% online degree program utilizes a cohort model and features flexible learning options for working professionals.

“We are proud to announce the latest inaugural program cohort that comes from our HRD department here in the Soules College of Business,” said Dr. Krist Swimberghe, college dean. “These talented individuals will gain the advanced skills, knowledge and vision they need to excel in today’s dynamic academic environment, all while making a meaningful impact on higher education here in East Texas and beyond.”

UT Tyler HRD PhD-HEL students in the inaugural cohort listed by hometown are:

ALTON – Marco Kidder.

BEAUMONT – Paul Howell.

BULLARD – Laura Waits and Samantha Wall.

CYPRESS – Kacey Johnson.

FLINT – Joshua Neaves.

SAN ANTONIO – Andrea McClure.

TROUP – Mackenzie Bernardino.

QUITMAN – Chastity Hawkins.

UT Tyler program graduates are well prepared for senior and leadership positions in organizational settings or for research and teaching roles in academia. Career options include community college or university faculty member, higher education consultant and leadership roles within academic affairs, student affairs, enrollment management, and other units like education technology and advancement. To learn more, contact UT Tyler professor and program coordinator Dr. Kim Nimon at knimon@uttyler.edu, or visit uttyler.edu.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.