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Small business owner Ebony McArthur knew from a young age that she did not want to be a teenage statistic. Pregnant at just 13 years old, she promised herself she would graduate from high school on time with her young son by her side.

Not only did McArthur meet that educational goal but today, more than 25 years later, she has four degrees—including a doctorate from the ������Ƶ (UMGC)—and many professional accolades.

“My family, friends and clients kept pushing and cheering me on, especially people that know my original story and just know how I started,” McArthur said. She purchased her first investment property at the age of 18, became a licensed realtor in 2015, and is the founder, owner and broker of .

McArthur continued working even as she pursued her doctorate degree in business administration (DBA) dedicating 40 to 50 hours a week to her studies from 2020 to the end of 2023.

“Sometimes I get the question, should I call you ‘doctor’?” McArthur said. “I will say, I’m OK with Ebony but just don't say it in front of my husband. My husband would like everyone to call me doctor.”

She said her husband tells people, “‘She worked really hard for that, and I've been there since day one, and she deserves the title.’”

McArthur met her husband while in her teens, and they became dear friends. He was medically discharged from the U.S. Navy and today works as an analyst for the federal government. The couple has four children, ages 27, 22, 17 and 14.

“He was really supportive in helping in any way that he could,” She said. “We got married when I was 23 and he is my knight in shining armor.”

The dedication and fervor that carried McArthur to her high school diploma also marked her higher education journey. She graduated with an associate degree in 2015 from the Community College of Baltimore County. McArthur received three degrees from UMGC including a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2018 and an MBA in 2020 before enrolling in the DBA program. Each degree meant a new celebration of her accomplishments with her children and husband.

“Ebony clearly deserves to be called ‘Doctor,’” said James Gelatt, adjunct professor of business administration. “Her work as a doctoral student was impressive, especially with the heavy workload she had in her business.”

During McArthur’s MBA studies, her husband received his real estate license to assist with her business appointments and managing the business.

McArthur is also a published author. Her first book was “,” which shares her personal story and those of eight other women. Her three other books focus on wealth, business and financial literacy. They are “,” “” and “.”

As a way to share the business knowledge she has acquired as an entrepreneur and lifelong learner, McArthur also founded , a non-profit organization. McArthur Group Community Outreach strives to educate underserved communities and veterans in financial literacy, civics education and scholarships.

She also hopes to support the UMGC community in the future.

“As an alumna of UMGC, I plan to stay connected by actively participating in alumni events and networking opportunities,” McArthur said. “I intend to contribute to the alumni community by mentoring current students and sharing my experiences.”