Dr. Rob Raymond: Maximizing Every Moment
Rob Raymond received his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in December 2024. Before his doctorate, he was already well-versed in the academic world. He holds degrees from the University of Louisville, Speed Scientific School, and Sullivan University. He describes his journey before IWU as long but says that each experience has brought him to where he needed to be. He currently works as an R&D director for Marcus Paint Company in Louisville, KY.
Dr. Raymond is open and ready for God's plan post-degree. He says that he doesn’t know exactly what he wants to do with his DBA. One of the biggest lessons he learned during the degree program is to trust God with his future. Dr. Raymond relies on the Lord for peace and a heart open to new possibilities.
The Lord has used three aspects of Dr. Raymond’s life to give him direction: his wife, his church, and his education. He believes these three pillars of his life have led him to become who he is today. This foundation is what caused him to seek a deeper connection between faith and education.
In addition to being a lifelong learner, Dr. Raymond is a committed Christian and a member of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville. The desire to align his faith and education became a possibility when he found IWU, the only Christian University he has attended. The experiences Dr. Raymond had at IWU have allowed him to grow both as a student and as a Christian. He sees a clear connection between his education and his life purpose.
Dr. Raymond says his educational community has shaped him significantly both in faith and in learning. Dr. Marian Carpenter’s passion for teaching inspired him to follow her example by helping him gain confidence early in the DBA program. Meanwhile, Dr. Dutch Kendall’s presentations on the skills and success needed for the degree left him feeling capable that he would be able finish his DBA, despite the difficulties. Finally, his chair, Dr. Joe Childs, came alongside him in prayer during his struggles and doubts related to the degree. He is grateful for the impact that his professors' actions have left on him.
Maximizing every moment and pursuing his goals are two values Dr. Raymond actively follows. He is grateful to IWU for his development of urgency and refinement of focus on his life. He has gained the perspective that moments are fleeting. He doesn’t have an unlimited amount of time to do things he wants to do, so he believes it’s important to take the initiative in things that matter to him.
The greatest piece of advice that Dr. Raymond picked up during his time at IWU is to remember that every step of the process matters, and to remind yourself that you are never alone when God is walking by your side.
