DBA Alumni Weekend – From Research to Real-World Impact
UMSL Doctor of Business Administration

DBA Alumni Weekend

From Research to Real-World Impact

April 3–4, 2026 Alumni • Students • Faculty

A two-day, in-person experience designed for scholar-practitioners who want to stay connected, share their work, and co-create the next wave of research with real-world impact.

Thursday Evening: Welcome & Warm-Up

Informal kickoff & early arrivals

5:30–7:00 PM

Open-House Reception: “Welcome Back to Campus”

Location: TBD

An informal kickoff for early arrivals. Drop in to reconnect with classmates, meet new DBA students, and enjoy refreshments. No agenda, no pressure—just conversation and catching up before the weekend begins.

Friday – Day 1: Reconnecting & Showcasing Impact

Panels, workshops, and scholar–practitioner stories

8:00–8:30 AM

Continental Breakfast & Check-In

Grab coffee, meet the organizing team, and get oriented for the day.

8:30–9:00 AM

Opening Session: “Setting the Stage”

Welcome remarks, program overview, and a look at how the DBA community continues to shape both research and practice.

9:00–10:00 AM

Panel: “From DBA to Consultant”

Alumni share how they’ve transformed doctoral research into real-world impact: consulting, coaching, executive advising, and entrepreneurship.

10:00–10:30 AM

Networking Coffee Break

Refuel, reflect, and continue the conversation with fellow scholar-practitioners.

10:30–11:30 AM

Faculty Spotlight: “Intro to the World of R”

Facilitator: John Meriac

John will take us through a practical overview of getting started with R—perfect for DBAs who want to deepen their analytics toolkit.

11:30 AM–12:30 PM

Panel: “From DBA to a Career in Academics”

Alumni share how they’ve used their DBA to transition into academia or accelerate their academic careers.

12:30–1:30 PM

Lunch: “Ideas & Introductions”

Seated networking lunch with themed tables, including:

  • Leadership
  • Healthcare
  • Strategy
  • Finance
  • Technology
  • Marketing & Customer Experience
1:30–3:00 PM

Workshop: “Problems Yet to Be Addressed In…”

Bring your toughest unanswered questions. Together we’ll explore what research already exists and where new opportunities lie across:

  • Healthcare
  • Finance & Accounting
  • Leadership & Organizational Behavior
  • Supply Chain
  • Marketing & Customer Experience

Outputs from this session will feed directly into Saturday’s Research Design Sprint.

3:00–3:30 PM

Refresh & Transition Break

Pause, reset, and get ready for the afternoon’s lightning talks and community project.

3:30–4:45 PM

Lightning Talks: “Spotlight on Scholar-Practitioners”

Fast-paced, 7-minute stories from alumni on applying dissertation findings, leading change, and translating data into decisions.

4:45–5:30 PM

“Giving Forward: Snack and Study Care Packs”

Giving forward to the students of UMSL, we’ll compile care packs for their week of finals.

5:30–6:00 PM

Break

Take a breather before the evening celebration.

6:00–8:00 PM

Formal Dinner: “Scholar-Practitioners in Action”

A celebratory dinner bringing together DBA alumni, current students, and faculty to honor the impact of research in practice.

Saturday – Day 2: Creating & Looking Forward

Storytelling, research design, and next steps

8:30–9:00 AM

Breakfast: “Fuel for Thought”

Ease into Day 2 with coffee, conversation, and informal networking.

9:00–10:15 AM

Mini-Course: “Storytelling with Data & Insight”

Facilitator: Ekin Pellegrini

Learn how to turn complex findings into compelling narratives that resonate with executives, investors, and students alike.

10:15–10:30 AM

Coffee Break

Refill, reflect, and get ready to design what comes next.

10:30–11:45 AM

Workshop: “Research Design Sprint”

Building on Friday’s “Problems Yet to Be Addressed” session, teams move from big questions to early-stage study concepts.

11:45 AM–12:15 PM

Closing Reflections: “Next Chapters”

Share insights, commitments, and future plans for ongoing collaboration through alumni research clusters and mentoring circles.

12:15 PM

Grab-and-Go Lunch & Farewell

An informal closing meal for those heading home. Swap contact info and leave with clear next steps for staying connected.

Hotel Information

Hotel partnerships & booking details

Booking tip: follow the instructions below (corporate codes and “call only” notes) to secure preferred rates.

Drury Inn St. Louis Airport
4.6 miles from UMSL campus
Corporate Code: 306255
Rate: $135/night
Check In / Out: 3:00pm / 11:00am
Cancellation: 12:00 p.m. day before arrival
Airport Shuttle: Complimentary shuttle from Lambert Airport to hotel
Breakfast: Complimentary weekday breakfast (6:00am–9:30am)
Dinner: Complimentary dinner (5:30pm–7:00pm)
Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel
3.3 miles from UMSL campus
Corporate Code: MO5
Booking: Use code “MO5” via online or call only (Letter M, Letter O, number 5)
Rates: Depend on the day
Check In / Out: 4:00pm / 12:00pm
Cancellation: 48 hours before arrival
Airport Shuttle: 24h complimentary shuttle to/from STL Lambert Airport
Clayton Plaza Hotel
5.9 miles from UMSL campus
Call Only
Reservations: Call 407-992-7957
Check In / Out: 4:00pm–2:00am / 11:00am
Rates: $120 Standard Tower Room (Single King or 2 Queens)
Rates: $130 Executive Tower Room (Two Queens)
Airport Shuttle: Complimentary shuttle to/from STL Lambert Airport
Special Rate Tip: Indicate you are with the University of Missouri–St. Louis