Rashan Legard’s academic journey began with earning a bachelor’s degree in communications and broadcasting in 2011. Like many new graduates, he was getting ready to step into the job market and begin his career. He soon realized how difficult it was to get a job, facing multiple rejections, he decided to pursue something bigger. “That fueled me,” he reflects. “I realized I wanted more in life.” Soon after, he made a bold decision: he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Rashan served in the Army for ten years and was stationed in Hawaii. He embraced both the discipline and the deep sense of mission that military life provided. “As long as I felt like I was part of a mission, I was okay,” he said. While serving, he continued his education, earning his second bachelor’s degree in social work in 2019, followed by a master’s in social work in 2023.
Why Rashan Chose to Pursue a Doctoral Degree
At first, he considered pursuing a Ph.D. in social work. But after some honest self-reflection, he realized something important. “I didn’t really want a Ph.D., and I’m not fond of researching. But I figured I could do a doctorate because it’s less research-focused and more applied.” Around that same time, he came across Abilene Christian University’s Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership. Intrigued, he began researching the difference between a Ph.D. and an Ed.D. “I’ve always had a passion for leadership,” Rashan explained. “When I saw the positive leadership track at ACU, it just made sense.”
Choosing ACU wasn’t a rushed decision; it was intentional. It aligned with both his professional goals and his personal faith. The program offered more than academic rigor; it offered integration of purpose.
Rashan’s favorite class so far is Human Resources; he called the class “phenomenal” and continues to express deep appreciation for the coursework. “It goes beyond the book and gives you the chance to use your skillset and experience within the coursework,” he shared. Rashan began to rave about having a deeper understanding of leadership as opposed to being someone who just manages a group of individuals. He’s learning how to create environments that are safe, foster good morale and boost performance for the workplace. “This program is teaching me the severity of being a leader,” he says. “It’s about helping people grow in the workplace. It’s about understanding policies, systems and how they affect real lives.”
Rashan’s Vision for the Future
As the founder and CEO of his own organization, he’s also thinking bigger. He wants to move beyond storytelling into strategy. The positive leadership program is helping him refine how he communicates vision, builds trust and creates with other leaders to build safer spaces for others. “It’s teaching me how to use storytelling to promote meaningful change,” he says. “How to speak effectively to supporters and organizations. How to transform what I’m doing to an international level.”
Another important aspect of Rashan’s journey with ACU’s Organizational Leadership program is that faith remains at the center of it all. He appreciates how ACU integrates faith into leadership principles, which reinforces the importance of leadership being rooted in humility, service and character.
When asked about his future plans, Rashan wants to hit the ground running and gain more experience at the organizational level. Rashan still wants to run his business and is looking into how to grow it into something larger. “I’m still figuring that part out,” he admits. “I want to expand my business at a systematic level. I’d love to contribute research insight to the medical system somehow. I just don’t know exactly how yet. I’m leaving it to Jesus.”
Helping Veterans and Advice For Students
As a veteran, Rashan experienced moments when he didn’t feel supported at other institutions and hoped ACU would be different. Rashan wanted to create a space for student veterans and founded ACU’s chapter for the Student Veterans’ Association. “ACU made the process easy,” he says. “They supported me holistically.” Working alongside faculty and staff, he was able to create a safe space where veterans can check in, attend workshops, participate in conferences and explore scholarship opportunities.
Rashan, being a leader and motivator, also wanted to send a clear message: “It doesn’t matter what school you go to, it’s about you.” He continued to express the importance of remaining resilient in the face of adversity and being honest with oneself about goals. “Do the research and then go all in,” Rashan then emphasized putting all faith in God to move forward.
Rashan Legard has faced many ups and downs throughout his academic career, but has remained strong in the pursuit of his doctoral degree. Joining ACU has allowed him to build his confidence and leadership skills, fostering change in his current workspace and among his peers.
To learn more about ACU’s organizational leadership program and other fields of study offered, visit our website.