Overview
Dr. Logan Daughtry moved from a Division I strength and conditioning role into a tenure-track assistant professor position at Catawba College. That transition wasn’t theoretical. His dissertation directly supported the shift.
That’s the kind of outcome that answers a very specific question: If I earn a doctoral degree in kinesiology from Concordia University St. Paul (CSP), where does it actually take me?
This article exists to answer that question with real names, real roles, and real career trajectories drawn from CSP’s alumni, not abstractions, not promises.
Doctoral Degree in Kinesiology: Where CSP Alumni Actually Land
Across CSP Global’s doctoral kinesiology alumni, a few patterns emerge quickly. These aren’t isolated success stories. They reflect repeatable pathways that working professionals have followed while balancing careers, families, and responsibilities.
1. Moving from Practice into Higher Education
One of the clearest outcomes is the transition from practitioner roles into faculty positions.
Dr. Kira Eimiller (EdD, PT, DPT) built her career as a board-certified clinical physical therapist before stepping into a full-time faculty role teaching DPT students at Daemen University. That move wasn’t incidental. It aligns directly with earning a doctoral credential required for teaching at that level.
She describes the structure of the program as key to making that shift possible:
“The program offered the right balance of flexibility, academic focus, research rigor, and affordability.”
Similarly, Dr. Candace Langston (EdD), who began in clinical exercise physiology, transitioned fully into academia and now serves as an assistant professor at Methodist University. Her path reflects a common requirement in higher education: without a doctorate, these roles are often inaccessible.
And in Dr. Logan Daughtry’s case, his movement from Division I coaching to tenure-track faculty illustrates how the doctorate becomes the bridge between applied performance work and academic career stability.
2. Expanding Influence Within the Same Career Path
Not every CSP doctoral graduate changes industries. In several cases, the degree expands influence within an existing role.
Dr. Josh Robinson (EdD), a physical education teacher and coach, didn’t leave K–12 education. Instead, the degree deepened his impact.
“Through this program, I’ve been able to expand my understanding of kinesiology, which has directly impacted the way I teach and lead initiatives in my school.”
For professionals who want to lead programs, influence curriculum, or take on broader responsibilities without changing employers, this pathway matters. The degree doesn’t just open new doors; it raises your ceiling where you already are.
3. Transitioning Into Leadership and Research Roles
For professionals already at a senior level, the doctoral degree often expands scope rather than changing direction.
Dr. Phil Stevens (PhD), now Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Hanger Clinic, was already operating as an executive. The doctorate enabled him to extend into research leadership and take on primary investigator responsibilities.
“With my professional career and employment, a traditional doctoral program was not an option.”
His trajectory reflects a different kind of outcome: not entry into a new field, but increased authority, influence, and ability to shape practices at an organizational or industry level.
4. Making a Full Career Pivot
For some CSP Global alumni, the doctoral degree supports a complete career change.
Dr. Tosha Bell (EdD) spent 16 years as a middle school educator before launching her own health and wellness business, Body Matters Experience. Her dissertation became the foundation for a commercial program, “Strategy over Stress,” translating academic work directly into a business model.
“I went on a mission to regain my power back and change the trajectory of my life.”
Her path illustrates something important for prospective students: CSP’s kinesiology doctoral program isn’t limited to academic or clinical destinations. It can also support entrepreneurial outcomes grounded in applied research.
The Range: Industries and Roles at a Glance
Looking across CSP Global’s alumni, the range of industries represented reinforces that this online program doesn’t lead to a single track.
You’ll see graduates working in:
- Higher education (assistant professors, faculty roles)
- Healthcare and clinical practice (physical therapy, prosthetics, exercise physiology)
- K–12 education and coaching
- Corporate wellness and entrepreneurship
- Strength and conditioning in both applied and academic settings
For example, Dr. Megan McCarthy (PhD) has built a dual-career pathway. She is continuing as a high school health and physical education teacher while also teaching as adjunct faculty at CSP Global and Husson University. Her doctorate enabled access to higher education teaching roles while maintaining her existing position.
“I doubled up on courses, spent three evenings a week writing my dissertation, worked full time… and went to bed each night exhausted, but so thankful for the opportunity.”
This kind of flexibility, holding multiple roles across sectors, is a recurring theme. The credential expands options rather than forcing a single outcome.
What the Degree Made Possible (The “Without It” Test)
If you’re evaluating a doctoral degree in kinesiology, the key question isn’t just what can I do after? It’s what couldn’t I do without it?
Across CSP alumni, a few answers stand out:
- Faculty positions in higher education: Roles like assistant professor or tenure-track faculty typically require a doctorate. Dr. Langston and Dr. Daughtry’s outcomes are direct examples.
- Transition from practitioner to educator: Dr. Eimiller’s move from clinical PT to university teaching reflects a shift that depends on doctoral-level qualifications.
- Expanded research leadership: Dr. Stevens’ ability to take on primary investigator responsibilities ties directly to doctoral-level preparation.
- Entrepreneurial application of research: Dr. Tosha Bell didn’t just change careers. She built a business grounded in her doctoral work.
These are not incremental changes. They represent access to roles and responsibilities that are either unavailable or significantly harder to reach without a doctoral degree.
Built for People Who Didn’t Have a Traditional Path Available
A consistent thread across these alumni stories is that none of them paused their careers to pursue their degree.
They were working full-time. In many cases, they were balancing:
- Leadership roles
- Teaching responsibilities
- Family obligations
- Career transitions
Dr. David Linton (EdD), now a faculty member at Warner University, described it directly:
“I chose CSP because it was a program that allowed me not to have to put my life on hold.”
This is where CSP’s structure becomes part of the outcome.
The absence of a GRE, GMAT, or comprehensive exam removes barriers that often prevent experienced professionals from moving forward. That doesn’t make the degree easier. The flexibility makes it accessible to people who already have established careers and can apply what they’re learning in real time.
That’s why this alumni group looks the way it does: mid-career professionals who didn’t step away from their work, but used their doctoral studies to evolve within it.
What These Outcomes Say About the CSP Degree
When you look across these alumni stories together, not individually, a few conclusions become clear:
- The degree supports multiple career paths, not just academia
- It consistently enables role expansion or transition, not just theoretical growth
- It fits into the lives of working professionals, not full-time students
- The outcomes are tied to applied work, not isolated research
And most importantly, you’re not left wondering whether it works. You can point to names, roles, and organizations that reflect what’s possible.
If You’re Evaluating Whether This Is Worth It
If you’re mid-career and considering a doctoral degree, you’re probably weighing one central issue:
Will this actually change my career trajectory, or just add another credential to my resume?
The CSP Global alumni outcomes suggest a clear answer. For these graduates, the degree wasn’t a passive addition. It was the mechanism that enabled:
- Entry into higher education roles
- Expansion into leadership and research
- Career pivots into new industries
- Increased influence in existing positions
If you’re wondering whether your background could lead to outcomes like these, the next step is to see how the program aligns with your goals.
Explore the program to understand the structure, concentrations, and expectations.
At this stage, you’re not deciding whether the field matters. You’re deciding whether the degree moves you forward.
The alumni outcomes show what’s possible. The next step is determining whether you see your own career in those trajectories.
When you’re ready, you can apply or book a call to talk through how your experience fits.