When Nixon Opondo, a quality and process engineer at Boeing, arrived in West Lafayette to walk in his graduation ceremony and receive his Doctor of Technology degree from Purdue, he expected the experience to be unforgettable. Having completed his doctoral degree entirely online, it was Opondo’s first time seeing his new alma mater in person.
“I wouldn’t have missed that opportunity for the world,” Opondo said.
.png)
What he didn’t expect was that he would receive a standing ovation after walking across the graduation stage. Coincidentally, Opondo was the only person receiving a Doctor of Technology degree from Purdue on the day of his graduation. In acknowledgement of Opondo’s achievement, the audience stood and gave him a celebratory round of applause.
To Opondo, however, graduating from Purdue represented more than a personal achievement -- it was also an opportunity for him to bring much needed knowledge and skills back to his hometown, where his expertise could have a major impact. He grew up in a small village called West Alego, Kaugagi in the Siaya District of Western Kenya.
“My mother passed away when I was 13 years old,” Opondo said. “And my father moved us to a boarding school in the countryside. But I spent part of my youth in my home village. I always wanted to help the people in my home village, as well as others who were struggling in life.”
His doctoral research, which focused on improving quality of life for people with lower-limb prosthesis devices, was inspired by his experience living in a remote community where disabled people often lack the resources they need to live high-quality lives.
“My research looked at the trends and advancements that are happening in prosthesis devices with the intent of predicting what’s on the horizon for prosthesis-users as technology changes and develops,” Opondo said. “There are lots of changes that can be made in terms of rehabilitation and engineering, and I want to do something about it -- that’s a commitment that I have.”
Opondo’s goal of improving quality of life for prosthesis-users is also informed by his personal experience. While completing his doctoral studies, Opondo learned that he had a serious medical condition that would require him to wear a prosthetic device. Though Opondo never considered that he would be a prosthetic-user when he began his graduate research, he said the experience gave him a better perspective on the accommodations prosthetic-users need to live full lives.
“When Nixon discovered midway through his doctoral program that he had developed a serious health issue, he became concerned that the dream of a doctorate from a prestigious university might be beyond his reach,” said Dr. Linda Naimi, associate professor of Technology Leadership and Innovation and the Faculty Lead for the Doctor of Technology program. “However, Nixon does not give up easily, nor do I. We discussed various options. He decided to put all his efforts into completing his degree before undergoing the medical treatments his doctors were recommending.”
Despite significant challenges, Opondo achieved his goal of graduating from Purdue, and he plans to use his experience as a new prosthesis-user to inform his future research, which he hopes will change lives and make the world easier to navigate for disabled people -- especially in Western Kenya.
Becoming a Boilermaker
Opondo’s graduation from Purdue was the culmination of many years of professional experience, research, and passion. Opondo began his technical career as a licensed aircraft and powerplant mechanic before moving into an engineering role with Boeing. No stranger to higher education, Opondo already held several degrees prior to coming to Purdue: a bachelor’s degree (BS) in Aviation Technology, a master’s degree(MS) in Industrial Technology Management, a master’s degree (MBA) in International Business Administration, and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Quality Systems Management from the Graduate School of Quality Management, a technical institution that dissolved shortly after Opondo graduated.
“I think seeing my previous graduate institution close hurt the credibility of my degree,” Opondo said. “I needed to be connected to a legitimate institution that could provide continuous support and a good name, as well as an extensive professional network so I could pursue my professional goals. Purdue was that for me.”
Opondo started working at Boeing after completing his initial graduate studies. There, he found that his professional aspirations were out-pacing his present skillset. Boeing is a technology-focused enterprise, and Opondo knew that increasing his tech skills and engineering expertise could position him for advancement, especially if he pursued a degree at a well-respected, technology-focused institution like Purdue.
“I wanted to grow into the future, grow in the direction that my organization was growing,” Opondo said. “To do that, I had to go back to school.”
In Purdue’s Doctor of Technology program, Opondo found many new opportunities to grow his skillset and study pressing issues in engineering and technology. He also found the stability and legitimacy he felt his previous doctoral institution was lacking.
“Purdue restored my pride,” Opondo said. “If anybody asks me where did you go to get your doctoral degree, I can say Purdue and flash it in their face and feel proud and confident.”
An Engaging Online Learning Experience
Opondo’s goal of earning another doctoral degree was supported by Boeing -- the company offered him a tuition supplement that covered many of the costs associated with the program. As a student in the 100% online Doctor of Technology program, Opondo’s coursework gave him the opportunity to continue working at Boeing while completing his degree. And though Opondo was working on a tight schedule and studying many miles away from Purdue’s flagship campus in West Lafayette, Ind., he still felt fundamentally connected to the campus community.
“It was an online program, but there was absolute engagement throughout the process,” Opondo said. “The level of support I received as an online student was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life.”
Opondo was particularly grateful for the program’s expert faculty, who went above and beyond in supporting him with his research goals and giving him the resources he needed to succeed. Dr. Naimi provided extensive help and support to Opondo -- advising, guiding, encouraging, and showing him the ropes so he could complete his projects with confidence.
“Nixon proved to be an outstanding doctoral student whose integrity and diligence impressed me from the beginning,” Naimi said. “His courage and determination garnered the support of his doctoral committee and Purdue administrators and staff, and we watched his graduation and the standing ovation he received with absolute joy.”
Other students in the Doctor of Technology program also helped steer Opondo towards success. Though he never met most of his classmates in person, the structure of the program allowed him to participate in many group projects, where he was able to bond with his colleagues and learn from their diverse experiences and industry expertise.
“I was able to work with people from many different backgrounds who had all kinds of experiences,” Opondo said. “Even though we weren’t on campus, my experience felt very immersive -- the opportunities, the courses, and the projects are all the same, and if I needed to call someone to get help with an assignment or my research, I could do that no problem.”
Learning to Make an Impact
Receiving a doctorate from Purdue was a major accomplishment for Opondo and also a point of pride for his family, who are spread all over the world. Opondo credits his wife and children for supporting him while he was conducting research and working towards completing his degree. And though most of his family members were unable to attend his graduation in person, Purdue’s graduation live stream allowed them to see, in real time, Opondo receiving his degree and getting a standing ovation from the audience.
“It was an incredible moment,” Opondo said. “It was a very professional ceremony, and Purdue provided everything you could possibly imagine. There were people across the world who were able to share that moment with me.”
Now that Opondo has graduated from Purdue, he’s looking towards the future. He expects that his Doctor of Technology degree will open lots of doors in his professional life, and he’s currently looking for more leadership opportunities at Boeing. He is also a part-time college professor. He teaches a class on international technology management at the University of Central Missouri, where he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. To Opondo, teaching is a way of sharing the expertise he’s amassed with others and hopefully inspiring more young students to pursue higher education and make an impact in their chosen fields.
“My main goal is to advance people’s knowledge using what I’ve learned,” Opondo said. “I had access to all these wonderful resources at Purdue, and I want to share that with others.”
Opondo is currently still recovering from his prosthesis implant, but after he heals he plans to hit the ground running -- using what he learned in his doctoral program to move forward in his career, and using his new experience as a prosthesis-user to strengthen his research. He thinks often about how he can give back to the community he grew up in and similar communities across the globe.
“What kind of impact can I make with the knowledge I have?” Opondo said. “That is the question I always ask.”
Learn what you can do with a Doctor of Technology degree from Purdue at the program’s website.
