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Gary F. Madvin, Ph.D. is a 2024 graduate of the PHD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Gary Madvin at his Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Chris Voparil, Committee Chair, Dr. Daniel Diaz Reyes, Committee Member, Dr. Beryl Watnick, Committee Member

Dissertation Committee

  • Christopher J. Voparil, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Daniel Diaz Reyes, PhD, JD, Committee Member
  • Beryl Watnick, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

happiness, success, elite colleges, tiers of colleges, value proposition

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

This study investigated perceptions about the correlation between the college people attend and long-term happiness. Its inquiry into whether college graduates believe where they go to college affects the chance for long-term happiness is a response to the growing concerns of high school students who are anxious about acceptance into an elite undergraduate college. There is substantial literature demonstrating that graduates of elite schools earn more money and professional success than graduates of standard schools (Rumberger & Thomas, 1993). At the same time, there is evidence that individuals who attend a lower tier school while having similar characteristics to those who qualify for a top school are often as successful and prosperous as are their top-school counterparts (Dale & Krueger, 2011). This study addresses a gap in the existing literature about perceptions of the correlation between the college a person attends and his or her long-term happiness. The data indicates more than one-third of well-off participants in surveys report below-average levels of happiness (Pavot & Diener, 2013). Using a ranking system with four tiers of colleges based on admission rates, an anonymous survey with a seven-point Likert scale and an open-ended question was sent to a class of successful people (community college presidents) to determine respondents’ perceptions of the correlation between the college they attended and their long-term happiness. The findings of the survey were clear. Seventy-three percent of respondents indicated that attending Tier 1 and 2 schools has no correlation to long-term happiness. Additionally, the survey results indicate that there is no tier of college attended that diminishes the chance for lifelong happiness. The significance of this study lies in gaining a greater understanding of the importance of the tier of college one attends and in providing the basis for future investigations into the value proposition of higher tier colleges. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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Gary F. Madvin

ORCID: #0009-0004-0121-8607

Gary Madvin is a senior business development executive with broad-based experience and exceptional credentials. He has served as an advisor and consultant to several firms in diverse industries including law, medicine software development, electronic design and manufacturing.

In 1981, Dr. Madvin co-founded FMS Financial Partners, Inc. (FMS), a pioneering financial planning company on the West Coast. Since its founding, FMS has emerged as a large regional insurance and securities firm and is recognized as a major contributor to the national firm of NFP Corp.

Dr. Madvin is a Registered Representative and Registered Investment Advisor with Kestra Investment Services, LLC and Investment Advisor Representative with Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and General Securities Principal. He continues to be a leading insurance and securities producer.

Dr. Madvin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Wayne State University in Michigan, a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from California State University Northridge, a Master’s Degree in Philosophy and Ethics from California State University Los Angeles as well as a Master’s Degree in History from California State University, Northridge. Dr. Madvin has a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, Yellow Springs, OH. He has lectured at California State University Northridge and has previously taught classes in Philosophy and Business Ethics at Valley College in Van Nuys, California.

Dr. Madvin is a founding member of the Advisory Board to the center for Small Business and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business Administration and Economics at California State University, Northridge.

Dr. Madvin is a co-author of Finding Happiness with Aristotle as Your Guide: Action Strategies Based on 10 Timeless Ideas, published 2012.

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