Doctoral Student Spotlight | Jim Racheff M.S.’94, MBA’03, H’12

"I think that every leader at heart is a bit of a social and behavioral scientist. I really got interested in social science research during my MBA working with Professor Anita Jose in strategic management and organizational behavior. At the core, all leadership is about people and their relationships and motivations."

Jim Racheff, M.S.’94, MBA’03

Program

Organizational Leadership (Doctorate)
Business Administration (Doctorate)

Department

The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business

Graduate School
Graduate Student

Business Graduate Programs
Graduate School
Graduate Student

11/25/2024

Jim Racheff, M.S.’94, MBA’03, H’12, is a current doctoral student in Hood College’s doctorate of organizational leadership program. Racheff has been working in the field of applied information science for 35 years. Racheff is also an alumni of the College and the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. He currently works for the National Cancer Institute. We reached out to Racheff about his diverse career experiences, his studies in organizational leadership and how he applies his education in leadership to his work.

Could you briefly describe your career and educational background?

I earned a bachelor’s in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1989; a master’s in computer science from Hood in 1994; and a master’s in business administration from Hood in 2003. In 2012, I was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Hood. You receive it from a college in response to a body of professional work that they feel deserves recognition on par with a doctoral study. I gave the commencement speech to the Graduate School at Hood College a year after that.

I started working in 1990 at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. I’ve worked in applied information sciences for 35 years supporting biomedical and public health research. For more than 20 years, I co-administered the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, overseeing Computer Services and Statistical Analytics across the Enterprise, with my organization co-authoring more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications. I grew the company from roughly 12 employees to 100, give or take.

When my company was acquired in 2020, I decided to return to school to pursue a doctorate in leadership and business administration. But soon after another opportunity at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) opened, and I now oversee the IT infrastructure, support and services for the Institute.

What about organizational leadership encouraged you to study it?

I think that every leader at heart is a bit of a social and behavioral scientist. I really got interested in social science research during my MBA working with Professor Anita Jose in strategic management and organizational behavior. At the core, all leadership is about people and their relationships and motivations.

I think you’re always studying when you’re in a leadership position. You’re studying people, how they work and how to help them collaborate and excel in their roles. Being a leadership scientist felt natural to me.

What led you to pursue your doctorate at Hood College? When do you expect to graduate?

I have a long history with Hood and a great respect for its faculty and staff. Professor Jose and Professor Nisha Manikoth had been “after me” for some time to consider the Hood program, and with the move to the new position, my schedule freed up enough to allow some space to really engage with the program.

How did you first get involved with the National Cancer Institute?

The NCI has a national lab in Frederick. There are 38 National Labs in the country, and they are operated on behalf of the U.S. government by private contractors. My company, Data Management Services Incorporated (DMS), was one of the prime contractors that co-administered the National Lab for the NCI.

Eventually, I purchased the company and was the CEO and a principal investigator at the Frederick National Lab. A national lab is a government facility operated by a private company. Most are managed by the Department of Energy, but this is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

What has it been like working there?

Fantastic! You are surrounded by some of the smartest and most capable people on the planet. You get to contribute to the health and well being of the global population through the discovery of new knowledge.

How long have you been its branch chief? How did you obtain that position?

About a year. DMS was acquired right before Covid, and I planned to focus full time on my doctorate. However, an opportunity opened up to continue contributing to the NCI mission and to “stay in the NCI family.”

In the time you have worked there, what would you say has been your biggest accomplishment?

Any success that I have is due to the successes of my staff and our collaborators. We are one of the only small businesses to ever administer a national laboratory, and we have contributed to more than 300 peer-review publications, including in journals like Nature and The New England Journal of Medicine. We have been on the forefront of using information and information technology to advance the cause of biomedical research and discovery.

How have your studies at Hood aided your work in a leading position?

I’m a big believer in systems thinking and unexpected synergy—the best ideas come from being exposed to different ones, and having your ideas challenged and refined. Hood has been a wonderful “collaborator” and partner in my leadership journeys.

Are there any fun facts or trivia about yourself that you would like to share?

I was a Junior Olympic sprinter when I was younger. I ran my first Junior Olympics in 1973 or 1974, and I actually got medals from sprinting! My son and I recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa—the third highest mountain in the world. I am married and have a son (17) and daughter (19). I took classes at Hood before men were allowed on campus in the residential dorms. And I have Hood diplomas signed by two different Hood Presidents: Martha Church and Ron Volpe.

Want to take on the sciences from a leadership approach like Jim? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s doctorate programs, such as organizational leadership, by clicking here.