Dr. Sharon L. Bender

I have thoroughly enjoyed your course, Dr. Bender. It was well run, and you have been very quick with responding. I have learned some very effective ways to run projects in your class. I plan on incorporating my learning into rewriting my policy on projects. Thank you very much! — Dan Cunningham

Dr. Bender, you have been the go-to person when I needed answers about my project. All I can say is that this has been the most fun I have had in a class. You have provided a great deal of support and encouragement and I understand now why the feedback you get is always so positive! Thank you for one of the best classes that I've had the pleasure of taking in my degree program! — Charlie Peebles

Thank you Dr. Sharon for the best course I've ever taken! I can't wait to use my newfound skills again. The capstone course enabled me to perform research and to carry out every goal that I had hoped and planned to accomplish. The course provided me with an opportunity to pursue an undertaking that I believe has benefited the organization beyond my immediate group of coworkers. — Jim Hess

I want to thank my instructor for the great encouragement she provided in her course. It helped me tremendously. She is an awesome instructor! Her guidance helped me to go through my project with a high level of confidence, and I think she developed a fantastic course for the capstone project. Thank you Dr. Sharon Bender! — Elisabeth Jorgensen

Dr. Bender, you have been among my more memorable professors, and I have greatly enjoyed your course! I think we often need this kind of real world experience to verify that we can apply what we’ve learned and to instill confidence in pursuing future endeavors. The capstone experience beats the thesis paper hands down! — Bryan Lauerman

Dr. Bender, I have found you to be a person full of energy and ready to help and guide your students with a firm commitment to ensuring that they are enriched from the course experiences. — Rajeev Gupta

I would like to thank Dr. Sharon for creating a wonderful class that made me feel comfortable. I also want to thank her for creating a solid methodology that contributed to my project running so smoothly. And, I want to thank Dr. Sharon for her wonderful comments concerning my work. They sincerely meant the world to me, and I will never forget them. — Jim Kaye

I want to thank Dr. Sharon Bender, my instructor who provided one of the most organized and relevant classes at the University. Her templates, clear-cut instructions, and willingness to communicate by e-mail and phone provided the means to complete the project, learn a new tracking method, and reinforce positive project management processes. Her class helped to build my confidence in my ability to handle a project in a real world environment. — Diana Bochsler

Professor Bender, your course has been good for my self-esteem. I admire your ability to work with such a large class and be as helpful as you have been. I have experienced that often the online courses are more successful when an instructor really cares. YOU are one of the best!!! — Elisabeth Jorgensen

I have found that you are realistic, communicate well, and inspire me to give my best effort. I enjoy the way you run your courses and the way you keep things moving. Your format provides you an opportunity to give the one on one personalization that helps your learners. I have benefited from your class structure and individual help tremendously! I supervise interns in completing their capstone projects. When I shared your “Producing the Capstone Project” textbook with them, their eyes lit up. Their comments indicated that they would have welcomed a book like yours to assist them with their project. I am fortunate to have your help and appreciate all the individual help you have given me. I wish there were more people like you around. Thanks for being the way you are. — Davis Calleance

Dr. Bender, thanks for all the wonderful tips and comments that you have provided us. I have friends that go to an online school and they have told me many stories about instructors that don’t seem to care. To me, your commitment to us shows that both you and the school care about us. I am proud to have been your learner. — John Swope

I would like to thank Dr. Sharon Bender for her invaluable guidance and insight into project management. Dr. Bender has a genuine concern for the welfare and success of her students. I cannot say enough about her comments and all of the information she shared with her learners through her Web site and her book, "Producing the Capstone Project." Thank you very much! — Karen Vertigan

I would like to thank Dr. Sharon Bender first and foremost because without her valuable guidance, my project would not have been possible. I learned a lot in her class that has definitely inspired me. She dedicates a great deal of her attention to her learners, providing any feedback necessary to effectively improve their effort. If there were problems or roadblocks that we encountered, she got us back on track. She’s definitely a great instructor and mentor who inspires her learners. Dr. Bender deserves “two thumbs up!” — Colita Blockton

Dr. Sharon Bender is a fantastic instructor, always communicating what was going on and what to expect, and keeping a very positive flow throughout the course. I hope I get another chance to learn with her, especially with the Capstone Project. I believe my first course with her has prepared me for success in my degree program. — Kenneth Lowrie

I would like to acknowledge Dr. Sharon Bender, specifically her textbook titled, "Producing the Capstone Project." The text book provided essential information and was the perfect reference for any issues that I ran into while putting together my capstone project. — Bob Woudenberg

I would like to acknowledge my instructor, Dr. Sharon Bender, who provided a wonderful learning environment. Her structured course really helped make manageable what seemed in the beginning to be a massive undertaking. Her quick responsiveness and constant reassurance made the class and the project the best I've experienced in my degree program. — Emily Powell

Dr. Bender, you do a great job as instructor. I wish all instructors were as thorough. I did not even have to ask you questions because I always had all of the information I needed. — Troy Owen

Dr. Bender, thank you for making my final class an enjoyable experience and for teaching us how to anticipate and manage the setbacks when planning a project. — Thomas McCaleb

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Dr. Bender for her "plug and play" templates, endless advice and assistance, and her overwhelming eagerness to assist us in our learning. — Michael McDermott

Taking multiple classes while working fulltime as you know is difficult enough, but your teaching methods, in particular your timely feedback, make it a pleasure rather than a burden. I am very grateful to have had you as an instructor, Dr. Bender! You are a credit to the university! — Tony Tossona

I wish to acknowledge your invaluable guidance on my project work, Dr. Bender. You seem to have a genuine concern for the welfare and success of your students. I cannot say enough about your helpful comments and all of the information you have shared with us through your Web site and your book. Of all of the classes I have taken, you have been the most helpful and concerned instructor. You were so thoughtful in showing unsolicited concern for all of your students. It has been a pleasure to take your class! — Robert Lambeth

A huge thank you to you, Dr. Bender for your dedication to your students! Your feedback and professionalism has contributed greatly to my capstone project experience. I truly appreciate your concern for your student's best interests. — Judy Jackson

Thank you so much, Dr. Bender, for all your direction and communication. This has by far been the most involvement I have experienced in my program. I can see why everyone loves your class. Keep up the good work!!!! — James Gates

I have enjoyed your introductory class and after looking over your site, I cannot wait to take your capstone project course! You truly are a great professor and a wonderful educator. — Dana Holmes

I would like to acknowledge Dr. Sharon Bender for her assistance in helping me complete my capstone project plan, which guided the successful delivery of my project. It has been very clear that Dr. Bender cares very much for her learners' success. Dr. Bender states that the traditional thesis paper is or can be “a research document that would typically wind up in the university’s archives and not benefiting anyone.” I fully support the capstone project tenet because I believe a college degree should be more than a means to an end. I learned the value of the capstone project as a means to culminate my academics while benefiting others with the knowledge I've gained in my degree program. — Chris Conway

I want to let you know that you have been by far the most responsive instructor that I have had in my two years attending classes. I thoroughly enjoyed your class. I will seek to continue the great work that was accomplished in my capstone project experience in other projects within my workplace. — John Henfey

Dr. Bender, your awesome, simple approach to the Capstone Project made it easy to accomplish the deliverables. You always provided feedback that helped me to dig a little deeper into the material in order to achieve the best outcome. Thank you very much! — Tom Martins

I am amazed that a project that has been put off for several years is getting accomplished in a few weeks. The capstone course is changing my entire perspective about project management. — Mary Meffe  

It has been a great pleasure having you as an instructor. I've learned so much in the capstone course with you than in any other course at the university. More courses should be constructed similar to yours. I want to say thank you for your guidance and your feedback throughout my learning experience. Please, take care! — Lance Truong

I want to thank you one more time. Your class has been great! I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet you. I will be checking your site regularly and from time to time I will send you an e-mail to say hello. I hope to hear back from you as well. It has been a pleasure having you as my instructor. Again, thank you very, very much! — Natasha Overbo

Dr. Sharon, thanks for a wonderful experience! The Capstone project is something that I will take pride in knowing that I completed. I plan to keep my tracking site alive as well as including it in my resume. I can’t tell you how many colleagues wish that they had the capstone project experience during their degree curriculum. They have really seen the value of it in my progression throughout my project. The idea of the capstone project seemed intimidating at first, but it became fun once I realized that I could select the project. — Gary Gerson

You have been an outstanding instructor during the capstone course. The objectives and assignments you present are clear and straightforward and you have provided the necessary instructions to obtain the best understanding of each assignment. Your feedback on submitted assignments has been quick and you provided follow-up communication to help me stay on track. In summary, you have been one of the best instructors I have worked with during my degree program. — John Hays

Dr. Bender, your guidance and commitment to the success of your students demonstrates that an online college education can be as effective and challenging as that in a more traditional classroom setting. Your consistent demands for quality and timely work coupled with your guidance and support have provided me with a very effective educational experience. — Jim Kliora

Dr. Bender, yours has honestly been the best class that I've taken during my entire degree program. Thanks for everything, Sharon! — Ryan Frahm

I mentioned creating a prototype in a meeting and everyone became somewhat agitated believing that there is only one definition of prototype (a physical model representation). I explained that there are various ways to create a physical representation. Even a grouping of pen marked napkins on a table would constitute a prototype. I was happy to see that your textbook description supported my beliefs. Thanks! — Dennis W. Hill

Yours is the most effective style I’ve encountered at the university. In some of my earlier courses, the instructors caused significant amounts of unnecessary confusion. I also like your Web site. I have successfully used some of the concepts there for a job related project. — Sam Negahbani

In my line of work I am most often provided with a problem and an immediate need for a solution.  Although I am a firm believer in appropriate attention to detail, I have rarely had the opportunity to plan a project completely prior to initiating the development phase.  I think that the capstone course has definitely aided me in increasing the granularity of my project planning. — Ashe Richards  

I love the fact that your book is short, concise, and gets right to the point; no unnecessary reading, just useful information. Also, I have found your Web site and project examples invaluable tools and resources to help build my project. — Jona Hyun

I think the most significant learning experience in your class has been the realization that there is a method and a reason for thoroughly planning a project. I have seen it discussed in other courses, but your course makes it clear. It is refreshing to take a course that provides exactly what you need. The framework outlined in your book helps get rid of the unnecessary fluff seen in many projects. I believe your course provides a new level of confidence in what I’m doing, allowing me to concentrate on the outcome of the project instead of just worrying about a grade. You've been great! The book and the Web site make it really easy. If I have a problem in the future I know you're there to help. — Lee Williams  

Your book is very helpful. And what better than having the actual author help you work through issues? I took another course at a local college and we also used a book written by one of the instructors. I thought it was great! I consider myself fortunate for being able to take your course. I have improved my professional value because of it, and I think I now have the necessary knowledge to tackle some more complex projects. — Natasha Overbo

I am proud to have been your student, Dr. Bender. Your book and your feedback have been very helpful to me, and your Web site has helped me even more. THANK YOU! — Christine Stagnetto

While I attended your course your site went down and as I continued to work along I watched you put it all back together successfully. You brought us all into a collaborative mode by informing us of what was happening throughout the process and including the whole group in the success in the end. The results of what you’ve accomplished compliments the class with a great resource to draw from. Great work on your site! It really opens up the minds of those who visit. — Dennis W. Hill  

You are my kind of professor! I appreciate professors that care about the success of their learners and want to see them succeed. — Allen Dietzel

You have an incredible ability to organize and guide students through the learning process. — Jackie Jacobsen

Thank you for your input and corrections on my work. It is so very nice that you take the time to emphasize areas that need change. It really helps me to understand what I need to be doing. It is a great pleasure to work with an instructor who is so responsive to student needs and who takes the time to guide and aid in a student’s success. Thank you! — Rachel McCauley

I'm really very impressed and grateful that you pointed out the improvements and changes we need to make. You could have simply given us a grade for anything we submitted but I'm glad you gave us a chance to improve. Through my classes at the university, I have observed that in the American education system, teachers pay much more attention to their students' work. You certainly did. Much more than the attention I got while I was studying in a Singapore university. — Meng Leong, How

I just want to take a moment to thank you for your patience, guidance, and good spirits throughout the capstone project course, it's helped immensely. — Judy Mason

Thank you for all of your assistance and timely feedback.  I have had several courses at the university and you handle the courses better and provide more thorough and timely feedback than any other professors I have had. — Bart Melius

During my project development you always had appropriate and precise feedback to help me along the way. You have worked through many of these projects before and this experience with many other projects has given you the ability to envision the end result and give me advice that would keep me on track and doing each step correctly along the way. — Matt Savino

I am VERY impressed with your online instruction skills! You are the best instructor I have had in my entire degree program! Thank you! — Sandy Cobb

I have to say that I have never received such prompt and detailed feedback from an instructor.  I cannot begin to tell you how appreciated that is by your students.  You are a model for what every instructor should aspire to be. I also wanted to tell you how wonderful your text is. It is such a down-to-earth and practical guide. I only wish it were longer! Thanks again.  It was a pleasure being in your course! — Kristian Johnson