Rachel Roberts

Hometown
Severance

Area of research interest
Entrepreneurship

Master’s degree
Global MBA, George Washington University

Bachelor’s degree
B.S.B.A., American University

What are some of your hobbies?
Competitive equestrian, cooking, hiking, and gardening.

Where did/are you working while earning your PhD?
University of Northern Colorado

What is your current position?
Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship & Director Community Partnerships & Impact

Why have you decided to pursue a PhD?
Entrepreneurship has shaped every stage of my career. As an entrepreneur, I experienced firsthand both the excitement and uncertainty of building a business. After co-founding and growing my own company, I successfully sold it for five times its value, an experience that gave me a deep appreciation for the decisions, risks, and resilience required to create something meaningful.

That journey ultimately led me to higher education, where I discovered a passion for helping others navigate their own entrepreneurial paths. As an educator and community leader, I've had the privilege of supporting more than 400 entrepreneurs and small businesses across Colorado through programs, mentorship, and resource engagement. Working with founders from a wide range of industries has reinforced my belief that entrepreneurship has the power to strengthen communities, create opportunity, and drive economic growth.

Pursuing a PhD is the natural next step in that journey. I want to move beyond sharing my own experiences and contribute new knowledge that helps entrepreneurs succeed. My goal is to combine practical experience with rigorous research to better understand how entrepreneurial ecosystems, education, and community partnerships influence business success. I hope my research will not only advance the academic understanding of entrepreneurship but also provide practical insights that help founders, educators, and policymakers build stronger, more resilient entrepreneurial communities.

At the heart of it, I'm pursuing a PhD because I believe the best research is grounded in real experience. I want my scholarship to be as impactful as my work in the community, bridging the gap between theory and practice while continuing to support the entrepreneurs who inspire me every day.

Why did you choose to get your PhD from the Daniels College of Business?
Choosing the Daniels College of Business was an easy decision because I was looking for a program that values both academic rigor and real-world impact. Throughout my career, I've always worked at the intersection of entrepreneurship, education, and community engagement, and I wanted a doctoral program that recognized the importance of translating research into practice. Daniels' emphasis on ethical leadership, innovation, and experiential learning closely aligns with the way I approach both teaching and entrepreneurship.

The Executive PhD format was also an ideal fit. It allows me to continue serving my students, supporting entrepreneurs throughout Colorado, and leading community initiatives while developing as a researcher. Being able to immediately apply what I learn in the classroom to my work, and bring practical experiences back into my research, creates a unique opportunity to strengthen both.

Perhaps most importantly, I was drawn to the people. From my first conversations with the faculty and staff, it was clear that Daniels is committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive community of scholar-practitioners. I wanted to learn alongside experienced professionals who bring diverse perspectives while challenging one another to think more deeply about the future of business and entrepreneurship.

As I begin this journey, I see Daniels not just as the place where I will earn a doctorate, but as a community that will help shape the next chapter of my career. My goal is to conduct research that meaningfully contributes to entrepreneurship while continuing to create impact in the classroom and in the communities I serve. Daniels provides the environment, mentorship, and values that will help me achieve that vision.