Leadership is rarely about standing still. The leaders who make the greatest impact continue learning, growing, and adapting to new challenges. For Robert Miller, CEO and President of North Texas Assemblies of God Stewardship, that commitment to growth led him to join Nelson University’s inaugural Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) cohort.

For years, Miller knew he wanted to continue his education beyond a Master of Business Administration (MBA). As he explored doctoral options, Nelson’s approach stood out.

“I looked at some other universities and their programs, and it was more based around what dissertation or what thesis I wanted to go with, whereas this one is more practical. You can apply it to your career now. Nelson’s program contains real-life things that integrate into my professional business life right now.”

That practical application became a major factor in his decision to join the program’s first cohort. As the DBA program was being developed, Miller reviewed the curriculum and was immediately intrigued.

“As the DBA program was formed and launched, I was sent the information about the program and the list of classes. As I looked at the courses and their titles, several made me think, ‘man, I really need that.’ Talking about: Kingdom Stewardship, Kingdom Economics, Innovation and Change, How to be Resilient in the Marketplace, and Current Challenges in Business.”

For Miller, these weren’t abstract concepts. They spoke directly to the leadership challenges organizations are navigating right now. These are the same challenges he navigates every day. He recognized the value of learning from the program’s practical, real‑world approach. And just as important, he appreciated how deeply the curriculum weaves faith into advanced business education.

“The faith part of the journey is just fantastic. I love that we have a prayer country of the day.… I love that even in the introduction of our courses, the first thing we do is integrate faith into what we’re going to learn. It’s so important to the journey.”

Miller credits much of his positive experience at Nelson to professors who bring real-world expertise into the classroom.

“I just learned so much. I think what I valued the most from the professors was not only the faith impact, but they were also in the real world. They understood the professional situations that we had walked through. They were able to speak firsthand about how to balance some of those tensions of life and family and education and career.”

Many prospective doctoral students wonder whether they have the time, energy, or capacity to return to school. Miller understands that concern.

“To that person out there that feels like they’re too busy, you’ll never feel like you’ll fully have the time. If this is something that you feel like you’re supposed to do, God’ll give you the grace and the abilities to be able to go through it.”

His philosophy is rooted in a belief that growth never stops. Miller felt if he wanted to continue growing in his career, he needed to keep learning. 

“One of the things I’ve always felt is that leaders are learners,” Miller stated. “[The DBA program] will help you grow in areas maybe that you’re not even expecting yet.”

For Miller, the DBA is more than an academic credential. It is an opportunity to strengthen his leadership, scale his knowledge, and help shape a program designed to equip leaders for today’s marketplace and tomorrow’s growth.

Advance your leadership and take the next step in your career with Nelson’s Doctor of Business Administration program. The DBA program is designed for experienced professionals who want to integrate advanced business knowledge, practical leadership skills, and faith-centered learning.

Learn more about Nelson University’s graduate programs to discover how a DBA can help you grow as a leader.

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