Jason Tetuan, master of accountancy student at Emporia State University’s School of Business, dreams of earning his doctorate in accounting. He is now one step closer, with the help of the PhD Project, an organization that encourages and helps minority students earn doctoral degrees.
A Topeka, Kansas, native, Tetuan graduated from ESU in 2016 with his bachelor of science in accounting and will graduate with his master of accountancy in May 2017. He currently holds a 4.0 grade point average in his master’s program. As an undergraduate, Tetuan played middle linebacker for the Hornet football team and was team captain. He earned many honors, including being named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and honorable mention for defense on the USA Football Preseason Watch List. He was also named a School of Business Capital Federal Scholar for the current 2016–17 academic year.
Tetuan learned of the PhD Project through one of his professors, Dr. Kamal Lamsal, who discovered the program while working on his doctorate in Iowa.
“Knowing that Jason is a Hispanic-American, the PhD Project was a great opportunity for him,” said Lamsal. “I wanted to make certain that he knew it was available, so I encouraged him to apply.”
Tetuan applied and was accepted to attend the annual conference in Chicago in mid-November. He was one of the 300 accepted out of 800 applicants — and was the only student from Kansas to attend.
Project PhD “helps African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans attain their business PhD and become the business professors who will mentor the next generation of leaders,” according to the organization’s website.
The program aids in the disciplines of information systems, marketing, management, accounting and strategy. According to the website, “The PhD Project was founded upon the premise that advancements in workplace diversity could be propelled forward by increasing the diversity of business school faculty.”
Tetuan will be the first generation in his family to get a master’s degree, let alone a doctorate.
“I come from a great, supportive family. I want to make them proud,” he said. “But this is for me. I want to be in the classroom, inspiring others to get their degrees, just like Dr. Lamsal did for me.”
Tetuan said he made many connections at the conference and has started applying to eight doctorate programs.
“I hope I get accepted to at least two. That way I can choose.”
The PhD Project has foundations that help support students financially. Tetuan also hopes he is awarded one of the PhD Project scholarships to help pay for his doctorate program.
“I’m excited for what the future holds for me,” he said. “I just want to make a difference for the next generation of students.”
About the PdD Project: The PhD Project was initiated in 1994 by the KPMG Foundation, Graduate Management Admission Council, Citi Foundation, and AACSB International. For more information on the PhD Project, go to www.phdproject.org.