I served in the private and public sectors, for over 25 years. Many times in the past 18 years I considered getting a PhD, but never did. Now after working as a futurist, and strategy consultant and a entrepreneur, I finally decided I had done it all.

I made money, I lost money; I organized strategic alliances, I launched out on my own, only to look back and see no one following! I know I can leverage my skills. I understand platform leadership and innovation. For me it was no longer a matter of just doing, but finding a way to invest in others, and change both society and its culture at a deep level.

As I reached my sabbath age of 49 I realized I could take a different tack, and play a different end-game. In 2003 I enrolled in an online PhD, that allowed me to continue working, at least part-time. Now after 3 years I am about to write my dissertation, likely on some variation of the future-readiness of strategic leadership.

What about you? Where are you on your own journey? Have you built a career, and now want to extend your vocation to serve future generations?

If you are a mid-career professional that is ready for change, consider joining me via Regent University. Look into how you might get a PhD in Organizational Leadership and apply futures studies to that. In the summer of 2007, I begin full time as an assistant professor with the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship.

I am looking for a few good souls who want to bend the curve of the 21st century, and raise their own game as scholars and practitioners. This newest "major" in Regent's Leadership PhD allows you to study online in a "tutorial" mode, basically one-on-one with a professor, rather than a "cohort"--with 12 others. It is a "global leadership" major.

If you are someone who can carve out 30 study hours a week to invest in your future, you could be a candidate. You would take two 3 hour credit courses for 3 years or 9 semesters. The first 18 months would be "core" courses. By your 5th semester, presuming you would study year round (with December, April and August off), you would start taking electives. Here is where you could really apply futures studies.

The incredible thing about this new program is it allows you to take these 24 elective credits from another institution, perhaps internationally. You might want to take a course from Richard Slaughter in Australia, the originator of the foresight approach to futures. Or study with Eleonora Masini in Rome, who defined the field of social futures. In these electives you can study under these PhDs in other countries, and also write a journal articles with them.

The "Global Major" in the Regent Leadership PhD allows you to transfer in up to 24 elective credits. After you earn these credits, you take Comp Exams. Then you do a dissertation. Time invested is usually 4 years. No one can say you did not EARN your PhD, and that from an accredited university.

The focus of the Regent PhD is on theory, not on practice. The PhD degree is for folks who want to teach, research and publish, and solve problems at deep levels, through quantitative and qualitative research.

Dr. Mihai Borcarnea from Romania is the program director, and a real quantitative wizard. Come 2008, I will be involved more in this "global leadership" major of the PhD, as an assistant professor to teach an elective course called LDGL 715 "Futures Research and Global Change." I help teach a similar course now to professional doctoral students. See this parallel course syllabus. Students gain expertise in systems dynamics and use forecasting tools to analyze global issues, and evaluate public or foreign policy solutions.

Regent's strength is the human side of leadership. It is known for its research into Servant Leadership. It is a private Christian university much like Notre Dame. It is ecumenical, and anyone can study there, whatever their spiritual background. The tuition is competitive, but set at rates for those in the global North. But the flexibility in the program and especially through the elective track allows you to study your electives, even in the third world, perhaps with more modest tuition rates.

The School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship has a long-term commitment to strengthen the field of futures studies. We offer a whole M.A. in Strategic Foresight and our 3rd year professional doctorates, or DSL degree students can take their final year in foresight studies.

The real reason I am investing effort to get my PhD is to strengthen the futures discipline. I invite you to join me. Let's raise up dozens of new PhDs that can teach, research and publish in futures studies; and define the next generation of both theory and practice in this significant field.

There are other options, of course. But none, IMO, are as well grounded in values, leadership, strategy, and thought leadership than Regent's PhD. They are accepting applicants year round in this new program, and in as little as 48 months, you could be embarking on a significant career change both as a professional futurist and a Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership.

Please contact me, Jay Gary if you are interested.