In 1983, Dr. J. Alberto Espinosa decided to get his Ph.D. in Finance from Texas Tech University. However, he quickly became discouraged by the curriculum-more data analysis than he cared for.

"I also needed to get a job, because I had no money," he says. So, he entered the workforce and worked with an international non-profit organization for 10 years. It was there that he discovered his love of computers and computer programming.

After climbing the ladder to become a senior manager, Dr. Espinosa decided it was time to go back to school and do what his heart was telling him to do. "I really love research and teaching. I could not get it out of my system, so I knew I had to return to school. Since I had experienced the doctoral process once already, I knew what I was getting myself into. I did it anyway!," he recalls.

So, 13 years after beginning his doctoral studies, he went back to school to get a Ph.D. in Information Systems (IS). He entered into the Doctoral Students Association in 2000, and it was the help of the others there that got him through his dissertation phase. "Everyone kept telling me to keep going, don't stop, just do it! Finish it! So, with the The PhD Project's help, I did," he says.

Dr. Espinosa brings a lot of his work experience into the classroom and has guided many students to career choices in IS. He also won a student teaching award from Carnegie Mellon. "Many of my students tell me they are on an MBA track in IS due to my course," he said.

If you are a PhD Project participant and would like to share your story, send e-mail.