SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InGenesis founder and CEO Veronica Muzquiz Edwards has officially become “Dr. Edwards,” completing her doctorate in business administration this week. She joins a small number of Latino doctoral scholars. Her diploma was conferred by the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) where her DBA research focused on disaster preparedness and crisis leadership.
In addition to celebrating this “first” for her family, Dr. Edwards’ daughter, Sydney, earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Criminal Justice from UIW on the same day.
“As someone who failed the first grade, I’m proud to have completed my doctorate. It just goes to show that everything is within reach,” Dr. Edwards said. “Needless to say, I’m most proud of my daughter and the example she is setting for young women.” To that end, Edwards promised that InGenesis will continue to contribute to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and UIW’s School of Osteopathic Medicine to encourage more women and people of color to pursue advanced degrees.
According to the most recent findings from the National Center for Educational Statistics, 7.2% of doctoral degrees were awarded to Hispanics in 2014-15. Although the number of Hispanics with a doctoral degree has increased in the last decade, the number of Hispanics conferred with doctoral degrees since 1976 represents less than 0.50% of the population.
“The accomplishments of Dr. Edwards and her daughter should make her family proud and their example will inspire any student aspiring towards similar goals,” said HACU’s President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “InGenesis’ generous contribution to our scholarship efforts will help others to pursue their own goals of excellence, in academia and beyond.”
One year into the doctoral program, Dr. Edwards deferred her studies shortly after a major fire at InGenesis’ former headquarters. Determined to complete her degree, she returned to the classroom. Dr. Edwards is a first-generation Mexican-American, among the first to participate in UIW’s inaugural Doctor of Business Administration program and the first in her family to earn academia’s highest degree.
Dr. Edwards was also recently named to the prestigious NIST Baldridge Executive Fellows Program and will spend this coming year examining world-class organizations and how senior leaders achieve strategic and operational excellence and stimulate innovation. Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) has recognized InGenesis as the largest provider of diverse staffing in healthcare, and named Dr. Edwards to the prestigious lists of Staffing 100 and Global Power 100—Women in Staffing for two consecutive years. InGenesis is certified by The Joint Commission for Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS), a commitment to excellence in providing qualified and competent staffing services to support patient care.
Dr. Edwards founded InGenesis in 1998, which has grown into one of North America’s largest woman- and minority-owned staffing enterprises. InGenesis provides staffing to dozens of industry sectors, including healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, professional services, financial services, information technology, and manufacturing.
About InGenesis, Inc.
Founded in 1998, InGenesis, Inc. is one of the largest woman and minority-owned workforce solutions enterprises in North America, and recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as the largest diversity supplier in the healthcare staffing industry. SIA also named Dr. Edwards to the prestigious lists of Staffing 100 and Global Power 100—Women in Staffing for two consecutive years. InGenesis is certified by The Joint Commission for Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS), a commitment to excellence in providing qualified and competent staffing services to support patient care. Visit www.ingenesis.com to learn more.
