Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership — Commencement at Midwest University

The day

On 14 May 2026 Midwest University in Missouri held its commencement. Jungsoo Kim received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership, with a concentration in Management Innovation Strategy Leadership, conferred by the university’s Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the faculty.

Graduates and faculty of Midwest University on stage at the 2026 commencement, in academic dress before a wall of national flags

The commencement stage, with the banner for the university’s 40th anniversary at left and the graduating class assembled

The degree

The doctorate is in Leadership, and the concentration is Management Innovation Strategy Leadership. The diploma is dated 14 May 2026 and carries the signatures of the President of the University, the Academic Dean, and the Chairman and a member of the Board of Trustees.

Achievement Award

At the ceremony the university presented Kim with its Achievement Award, given “in recognition of excellence in academic achievement.” The award certificate names the degree and is dated the same day, 14 May 2026, and is signed by the President of the University and the Academic Dean.

The framed doctoral diploma from Midwest University, dated 14 May 2026, displayed with the university medal on its red, white, and blue ribbon

Honorary citizen of Wentzville

The City of Wentzville, Missouri, where the university is located, named Kim an Honorary Citizen of Wentzville for the day of the commencement. The Certificate of Recognition from the Office of the Mayor, dated 27 April 2026 and proclaiming the honorary citizenship for 14 May 2026, extends the city’s appreciation for his interest in the community and an invitation to return.

After the ceremony

Graduates tossing their caps on the lawn outside the university, with the flags of the United States and Missouri and the campus pond behind them

Jungsoo Kim outside the Midwest University building the following morning

Kim now teaches at Midwest University as Professor in the School of Business Administration, AI and Digital Transformation Strategy. He also lectures at Gyeonggi University of Science and Technology, is lead instructor at the Gyeonggi AI Digital Learning Center, and is CTO at CO M&A. The doctorate in leadership sits alongside three decades of building technology, teaching it, and writing about it. For him those have been a single occupation held in several places, and the degree is one more place to hold it.