Excelsior’s DBA Leadership Team: Dr. Leah Sciabarrasi
Leah Sciabarrasi, PhD, is the associate dean of business at Excelsior University, where she helps develop curricula for business and public service programs, oversees academic quality, and keeps an eye on faculty leadership. Her background is grounded in a blend of creativity, technology, leadership, strategic planning, accreditation, and more. With her broad experience, she has played a central role in shaping some of Excelsior’s more significant recent developments, like redesigning the MBA curriculum, developing new concentrations, and helping to launch the University’s first doctoral program.
Here, Sciabarrasi describes the student experience in Excelsior’s new Doctor of Business Administration program.
How has your experience shaped your approach toward Excelsior’s Doctor of Business Administration program?
Sciabarrasi: I’ve spent my career building programs that connect strategy, learning design, and real-world applications. Excelsior’s Doctor of Business Administration program reflects that integration. My background in institutional effectiveness and accreditation keeps focus on rigor, outcomes, and alignment across the full student journey, and my work in talent management and workforce development reinforces that doctoral education should produce leaders who can apply research, not just understand it.
Furthermore, my experience across multiple institutions has taught me the value of clarity, structure, and strong scaffolding. Doctoral students shouldn’t have to guess how to succeed. At Excelsior, we’re focusing on straightforward design and robust guidance.
Starting a doctoral program can feel overwhelming. How do you help students navigate those early stages with confidence?
Sciabarrasi: The early stages of any program can be the toughest. We help DBA students through this critical time in several ways:
- We remove ambiguity early with straightforward pathways. The DBA faculty have been intentional about the design; students see how each course connects to their dissertation from the start.
- The program is intentionally scaffolded with research, writing, and analysis skills.
- Students begin their dissertation journey early, and they receive substantial guidance (templates, visuals) to help guide their next move to completion.
For someone balancing work, life, and school, how does Excelsior help make that experience manageable? What kind of support can students expect throughout the DBA program?
Sciabarrasi: Excelsior’s Doctor of Business Administration program is designed for working professionals and offers a predictable structure, clear timelines, and manageable pacing. Courses are organized in a way that allows students to plan and integrate school into their existing routines. The assignments are purposeful and connected and help students build toward their dissertation throughout the program.
What does mentorship look like in Excelsior’s DBA program?
Sciabarrasi: Mentorship is fundamental to our DBA program. Students are assigned to a faculty mentor, whom they meet with regularly to ask questions, check in, and stay on track. In addition, DBA students regularly meet with a dissertation committee to help guide their journey all the way up until they present their dissertation.
What would you say to someone who is interested in earning their DBA but is unsure whether they can take on the course load and dissertation?
Sciabarrasi: This program isn’t for everyone. This isn’t about simply doing more work; it’s about doing focused, connected work that builds over time.
That said, you don’t need to have everything figured out at the start. Excelsior’s DBA program is built to help get you to the finish line. If you can commit to consistency and engagement, our program will meet you with the structure you need.
Don’t ask yourself, “Can I do this?” Ask yourself, “Am I ready to invest in becoming a more strategic, research-driven leader?”
