African American Mother and Son Earn Doctorates on the Same Day

Maurice McBride, an assistant professor of business at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, recently received his Ph.D. in organizational management from Capella University in Minneapolis. On the same day, his mother Vicki McBride, received her doctorate in K-12 education in the same ceremony.

Vicki McBride became pregnant at age 13. After giving birth to Maurice she stayed in school while her mother helped care for the baby. She went on to college and graduate school and now is a middle school teacher.

Maurice McBride dropped out of high school at age 16 and ended up in a juvenile detention facility. He got his GED and began a career as a recording artist. While working in the music industry, he continued his education online earning a bachelor’s degree in business information systems from DeVry University and a master’s degree from American Intercontinental University.