Graduation season is the time of year when students don regalia and hear the familiar notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” as they process across convocation stages around the world. For three Sun Devils, this commencement marks an especially meaningful milestone.
Morgan Cividanes, Rahul Kashyap and John Lewis are the first graduates of the Doctor of Information Technology program offered by The Polytechnic School, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.
“The Doctor of Information Technology program is a professional, practice-focused doctorate designed for experienced information technology professionals who want to lead technology-driven transformation within organizations,” says Tatiana Walsh, associate teaching professor and chair of the information technology program.
Hands-on learning, real-world results
Launched in 2024, the program was created to address a growing workforce need for technology leaders who combine technical expertise with strategic leadership skills. Unlike traditional doctoral programs, it emphasizes actionable outcomes, industry impact and leadership in practice.
The program follows a scholar-practitioner model in which students integrate advanced technical knowledge, leadership and applied research to solve real-world challenges.
Hands-on learning is central to the curriculum, which is intentionally designed around current workplace problems. Faculty members use insights from industry partners and labor market data to identify emerging workforce needs, while the flexible elective structure allows the program to adapt as technologies evolve.
“The program balances theory with hands-on learning by presenting theory and reinforcing its application. Moreover, the program integrates abstract concepts via project-based experiences. Tools and techniques include simulations and case studies to apply classroom knowledge,” says Derex Griffin, assistant teaching professor in the information technology program.
The people behind the progress
For Cividanes, the timing of the program launch felt perfect. She had just completed her master’s degree in information technology and was considering the next step in her education. She wanted to challenge herself academically while taking her technical skills to a higher level. She credits her committee members with challenging her thinking and helping shape her approach throughout the process.
“There were multiple points where their guidance helped refine my direction, strengthen my approach, and push the overall quality of my work to a higher level,” she says. “Those moments not only shaped the development of my project, but also changed how I approach problem-solving, encouraging me to be more critical, intentional and open to iteration throughout the process.”
Kashyap had his “aha” moment when he changed his way of thinking about his project. His work focused on artificial intelligence, or AI, for health care, specifically predicting blood glucose levels with people living with Type 1 diabetes. At first, he approached it as a technical problem. Once he realized how his technology could help people, his perspective shifted. He now approaches every technology project by considering the people it is meant to serve.
“These aren’t just numbers on a chart,” he says. “They are someone’s body, someone’s day, someone’s quality of life. That reframing changed how I evaluate every model I build now.”
Like many doctoral students, all three graduates balanced coursework, careers, family responsibilities and personal commitments while completing the program.
After completing his military service, Lewis returned to school and discovered information technology at the community college level. He appreciated the challenges the field presented and went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in information technology from ASU. The program that recently debuted in the U.S. News & World Report rankings at No. 22 for the online information technology master’s degree and No. 10 for best online master’s degree program for veterans.
The journey was demanding, but Lewis says the experience carried a deeper purpose.
“What kept me going was a deep belief that this degree wasn’t just for me, it was for every version of me that was told he wouldn’t make it,” Lewis says. “and for my kids who will one day hold this as proof of what’s possible when you refuse to quit.”
Setting the standard for success
As the program’s first graduates, the three students are helping define what success can look like for future Doctor of Technology students. Each leaves with their third ASU degree and a clearer path to making an impact through advanced technology leadership.
“Our first three doctoral graduates have already secured new professional opportunities where earning the doctorate was a clear advantage,” Walsh says. “Their success marks a significant milestone for the program, demonstrating its academic rigor and its ability to prepare graduates who can effectively apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.”
