MBA student presents dementia research on helping aging employees at international conferences

Earlier this month, Liberty University graduate student Chidubem Xerona Nnajiofor presented research at the 2025 Dementia World Conference and 2025 Neurology World Conference, analyzing the effects of dementia and cognitive decline on the corporate world.

The conferences, held Sept. 5-7 in Boston, Mass., featured speakers from respected research institutions like Mayo Clinic, Harvard University, Texas A&M, and Oxford University, as well as presenters from Italy, China, India, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and more.

Nnajiofor, who is earning her MBA in Healthcare Management through the School of Business, completed a literature review on how human resources departments can assist aging employees as they battle cognitive decline and memory loss. Her analysis compared workplace health policies in South Korea, Europe, and Japan, to those in the U.S. to determine how best to address the issue of aging employees and improve productivity in business.

Although she did not have the same medical background as many of her peers, Nnajiofor said her research provided insight into this heavily overlooked area.

“I was proud to be one of the youngest researchers, the first to represent Liberty University at this international conference, and the only participant to present on business and management perspectives in a field typically led by medical professionals,” she said. “I was also grateful to receive a grant from the Liberty University Office of Sponsored Programs and Research to represent both the School of Business and LU in my research.”

Nnajiofor presented her research at Liberty’s annual Research Week last spring. She credited her faculty mentor, Associate Professor Dr. Tammy Brown, with effectively preparing her to present her research on the world’s stage.

“Research Week was an invaluable experience that taught me how to structure my presentations, engage an audience, and present with confidence,” she said. “The positive feedback I received during that event, along with the guidance and encouragement from Professor Brown and my colleagues in the Office of Community Life, helped me refine my delivery. Their feedback and tips prepared me to represent Liberty University well and give a strong presentation at the conference.”

Originally from Nigeria, Nnajiofor earned her bachelor’s degree in tourism management and hospitality from Sejong University in Seoul, South Korea. She said she was drawn to Liberty because of its Christ-centric approach to education. Her mother earned her Master of Public Health through Liberty University Online Programs.

“(Liberty) has given me a different perspective of my faith and work. Usually as a business major, the focus is on money, because that’s what worldly business says. From my first class at Liberty, they were integrating faith with business. I’ve been seeing that a lot of my professors have worked at top companies, but they still have their faith. It inspired me to see I can still be a businessperson and hold on to my values. Liberty has instilled in me that it doesn’t matter what direction I am taking, I just must have God at the center of it all.”

Although she isn’t sure about her plans after graduation in December, Nnajiofor said her long-term goal is to enter a career in medical tourism, which involves patients travelling internationally to receive medical care.

“Xerona’s research highlights her dedication to exploring how HR practices can better support aging employees globally,” Brown said. “Her exceptional work ethic and insightful analysis were evident as she represented Liberty University at Research Week and the Dementia World Conference in Boston.”