January 9, 2016
Walden University (Online)
Academic Advisor: Tiffany Caruthers
Protest Application filed by DBA Candidate Student Anita Smith (A00171213)
Against Dr. Ghormley for Unethical Behavior by befriending me for the purpose of failing me
Ms. Caruthers and Walden Faculty:
Reference is made regarding unethical behavioral on the part of Dr. Ghormley, while she was my temporary Chair and because I trusted her, became my permanent Chair because I selected her. Dr. Ghormley mislead me into thinking she would help me to obtain my goal for DBA degree. I believed her when she told me I could trust her and she would help me. Professor Ghormley is an outstanding professional at her work. However, she reacts with vengeance (unethical behavior) when you question her about things any student should be able to question any professor about (grades, why was this done, or I do not agree with you). If you do not agree with her or question her about grades she does not like that and will turn against you (especially Black students). Dr. Ghormley, continued to tell me she was my friend and she would make sure I got through my dissertation with my degree. I trusted her and I believed her until I noticed my grades and feedback from her did not line up. I wanted to trust her even with all the signs around me were not positive.
• Immediately once Dr. Ghormley became my Chair I had nothing but system problems with downloading my documents into Walden University site for home work due. The format became messed up when it was entered into the Walden system; I could not open or create a word document to post into the class discussions without having problems with it not posting correctly in the format I was sending it into the class. I had to use text documents and then I would be asked by Dr. Ghormley, to resubmit using a word document (used against me in my grades). I could not load my documents into turn tin. I reported all of the time my issues to Walden support but nothing could be found that was causing the submit problems. I purchased another computer because of it and I still had problems. Dr. Ghormley also knew that I was having problems. When I tried to post into turnit-in all of my changes would be displayed on that copy when it was not showing on my copy. It always made me look like I did not know what I was doing, which is not true.
• June 1, 2015-was another day that Dr. Weaver for standing up for me against Dr. Ghormley. I sent him the email that is dated June 1, 2015, to see what I could do to help, but of course he would not tell me anything.
• June 11, 2015 Dr Weaver sent an email to me and Dr. Ghormley in regards to my dissertation review. Dr Weaver, tried to stay in touch with me to make sure I was being treated okay by Dr. Ghormley. Dr. Ghormley did not like the fact that I wanted to stay in touch with Dr. Weaver, she reminded me that she was my Chair, not Dr. Weaver and wanted me to stay away from him.




• June 21, 2015 Last review wk. 7 graded by Dr. Weaver (1000 points)
• Dr. Weaver and Dr. Ghormley had disagreements about my progress and Dr. Ghormley did not want me to talk to Dr. Weaver, which I did not like. But, I did it to get through the process and not cause waves. Dr. Weaver viewed me trying to post in the MYDR and contacted Dr. Ghormley to help me. Little did I know that at the time, not allowing me to post into MYDR was a part of the plan she had to force me out of the program. No one could view my work but her!
• July 1, 2015, I had many problems posting into my Walden my assignments, problems using Microsoft word, problems uploading into Turnitin, problems with formatting and in general problems that I did not have but rarely in my class with Dr. Weaver. I made Dr. Ghormley aware but it was considered in grading.
• July 1, 2015-Temporary assignment to Dr. Ghormley
• July 1, 2015-Somehow Dr. Ghormley was under the impression that I would be in her class for the duration until she could force me out.
• July 7, 2015- There was a conference for the students under Dr. Ghormley, for assistance in any problem area they were having. I tried for 45 minutes to gain access and I could not get in. I sent her an email, I email Dr. Doug and Dr. Weaver along with Dr. Turner concerning my frustration.
• August 2015, time frame my Chair was changed and I wrote to Fred to have it changed to Dr. Ghormley. This was before I knew she was deceiving me into thinking she was going to help me.
• October 18, 2015-Response to Dr. Turner and Dr. Doug expressing problems with Dr. Ghormley
• October 30, 2015 Dr. Doug Responded back to me
• November 2015 contacted Ombudsman for Walden for help, after talking to him and being guided in the steps that he recommended to me to follow, not promising anything, it took me longer to make up my mind to follow through because the battle I was looking at is never pleasant. However, being a Christian, I realize that is why I am here to stand up, brush myself off and continue to fight the battle of faith in the name of righteousness in “Jesus Name”, for I am weak, but He is STRONG.
• Walden Ombudsman (Robert Brandt) contacted him around October 30, 2015
I, started working on my DBA with Walden University in 2009. I am the first in my family to go to college. When I started going back to school in Virginia (2000) I moved back home to Virginia to help my Mom after the death of my father. My Mom was not doing well at all. I was divorced and working in the Federal Government (Civil Service) at the time. I lost my status in the government to be there for my Mom (It is what it is). I have a grown daughter, son in-law and two wonderful grand-kids looking up to me. I wanted to provide them with the memory of someone special in their lives who worked while going to school to better herself. I wanted them to be proud of me for my accomplishments and in the hope that my grandkids would follow my footsteps (education). Also, I wanted my family to know that anything worth doing is not going to be easy, but worth the effort!







I asked that Dr. J. Weaver, be my Chair and I was grateful to have him to work with me towards my goals. Dr. Weaver had to leave his position due to health and personal issues around July 2015. Before, he left his position I received a score of 1000 points because he was proud of where I was in my dissertation (score of 1000 is a part of the records if researched). I did not always agree with everything that Dr. Weaver would say to me but we could speak to each other as professionals and I did not have to worry about him using it against me. That type of behavior is called trust, character, empathy, and integrity. When these components are embedded in our education system, we all win! The four components encourage ethical behavior; this is what students have the right to demand from our universities due to the cost of for Profit education. Student loan debts, cost of education, sacrifices of time spent with (families, missed memories, joy, quiet time with pets, and do nothing time) has been displayed as time management. So when we as students live by that code we have every right to expect dedicated teacher to have our backs in empathy and remembering what it was like when you needed support. When empathy is removed and compassion our leaders become all about I got mine and you get yours, the buck stops here! When we stop relating to grace and mercy in our own lives we cannot be compassionate to others as pass it on.
I also took a class with Dr. Turner, and I did not experience any negative attacks if I disagree with her or had a question about the grading. I was free to question without fear of being unethically mistreated.