Atlanta high school graduate receives doctorate

Deborah Louise Rhoads, a 1973 graduate of Atlanta High School and 35-year resident of Mesquite, Tex., received her Doctoral Degree (Ed.D) in Higher Education and Learning Technologies Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in a “rolling” ceremony at Texas A&M University – Commerce, Texas.

The title of Dr. Rhoads’ dissertation was The Impact of Early College High School on College Persistence to Completion of a Baccalaureate Degree at a Northeast Texas University.

 Rhoads gives praises to Jesus Christ for all of her accomplishments and believes her successful educational journey would not have been possible without the excellent foundation she received from her teachers in the Atlanta Independent School District. 

She acknowledges her parents, Salestus “Will” Rhoads and Winnie Mae Stiger Rhoads for encouraging her to reach for the stars and instilling in her the Rhoads legacy though the achievements of her uncle, Dr. Joseph J. Rhoads, President of Bishop College, Marshall, Texas,  1929-1951.  It was his memories that motivated her to pursue a doctorate degree. 

Her desire is to demonstrate to her 15-year-old son, Joseph, and the students of Atlanta and the surrounding communities that education is a life-long process, and to never give up on your dreams.

Rhoads’ research interest includes early college, collegiate, and PTECH High schools, student college debt and students with learning differences.  She plans to do further research on the impact of accelerated learning on student success, quality of life and the economy.

An adjunct instructor of Mathematics at Dallas College-Eastfield Campus, Mesquite, Texas, where she received the 2019-2020 Excellence in Teaching Award - Adjunct Faculty, Rhoads is also the recipient of the 2019 League for Innovation Excellence Award and the 2020 University of Texas-Austin NISOD Teaching Excellence Award.  Rhoads believes that committed faculty coupled with dedicated students equals success.