PhD in Leadership Studies
(Ph.D. Candidate: est. 2026)
My doctoral journey in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University has been a profound combination of rigorous academic research and a passionate commitment to justice-centered systems change. Anchored in the Jesuit principle of cura personalis—whole-person care—my scholarship explores leadership as a catalyst for healing, equity, and collective transformation.
Research Focus: Amplifying Underrepresented Voices in Systems Change
A central question guides my work: What happens when individuals most affected by broken systems are empowered to transform them? My research prioritizes underrepresented voices—across healthcare, education, and community leadership—highlighting how lived experience can drive more ethical, inclusive, and effective systemic outcomes.
Key Contributions & Academic Engagement
Elevating Lived Experience as Expertise
Conducted studies in healthcare and advocacy settings, advocating for formal recognition of lived experience as institutional expertise.Participatory Research in Rural & Underserved Communities
Led qualitative, community-based investigations that reject deficit-framing and showcase local leadership strengths.Cross‑Sector Leadership Ecosystems
Examined partnerships between public health, education, and entrepreneurship to understand scalable, equity‑centered system transformation.Intercultural & Global Leadership Development
Studied how identity, culture, and historical context influence the formation of transformative leadership across diverse communities.Servant‑Leadership & Systems Thinking Integration
Merged servant‑leadership, systems thinking, and complexity theory to reshape leadership practices in high‑stress, trauma‑informed organizations.
ePortfolio: A Record of Inquiry, Growth & Applied Impact
My ePortfolio documents the evolution of this work—academic scholarship, reflective practice, and hands‑on leadership. It charts an inquiry-driven path shaped by rigorous research, continuous self‑examination, and genuine engagement with the communities and environments where real leadership unfolds. Ultimately, my work asks: How do we build systems not just to function, but to truly heal?
Coursework (as of June 2025)
DPLS-700: Leadership Theory – Explored interdisciplinary leadership frameworks with a focus on moral injury, trauma-informed care, and servant-leadership; developed a personal leadership model integrating critical theory, narrative ethics, and systems thinking to address structural dysfunction in healthcare. LINK
DPLS-701: Organizational Theory – Analyzed organizational boundaries, systems thinking, and process philosophy through the lens of Weick, Whitehead, and Chia; applied transdisciplinary theory to real-world crises (e.g., COVID-19 in education and healthcare), emphasizing knowledge management, narrative leadership, and systemic adaptation in complex environments. LINK
DPLS-703: Global Leadership – Examined global systems, intercultural development, and ethical leadership through the lens of privilege, identity, and systemic inequity; applied the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), indigenous narrative analysis, and global case studies to foster cultural humility, critical global thinking, and justice-oriented leadership. LINK
DPLS-715: Leadership Ruminations – Cultivated authentic leadership through storytelling, reflective practice, and trauma-informed pedagogy; applied contemplative tools such as journaling, empathy walks, and container-building to develop values-aligned leadership strategies and facilitate transformative learning environments. LINK
DPLS-720: Principles of Research – Designed a qualitative research proposal on maternal health leadership; demonstrated advanced competency in literature review, methodological alignment, and ethical research design with emphasis on decolonizing inquiry, interdisciplinary analysis, and NICU parent advocacy. LINK
DPLS-722: Quantitative Data Analysis – Applied inferential statistics (t-tests, ANOVA, regression) to leadership research; strengthened statistical literacy using Excel, integrated mixed-methods analysis, and examined ethical implications of global data interpretation in leadership contexts. LINK
DPLS-723: Qualitative Research – Conducted and analyzed semi-structured interviews using grounded theory and abductive reasoning; developed coding strategies, conceptual frameworks, and narrative synthesis to explore collaborative leadership in healthcare through a reflexive, ecosystem-based lens. LINK
DPLS-727: Complexity & Leadership Studies – Applied complexity theory to healthcare leadership, developing a systems-based framework for credentialing patient partners; explored adaptive leadership, ethical participation, and ontological identity formation to support transformation in trauma-informed and family-centered care environments. LINK
DPLS-743: Leadership and Consulting – Gained proficiency in the full consulting cycle—from contracting to implementation—while developing a values-based consulting stance focused on trust-building, ethical engagement, and systems transformation in nonprofit and mission-driven contexts. LINK
DPLS-745: Ethics and Leadership Studies – Applied classical and feminist ethical frameworks to contemporary moral issues; explored metaphysics, narrative ethics, and moral imagination through scholarly writing and a public lecture on Tolkien’s On Fairy-Stories to deepen ethical leadership praxis. LINK
DPLS-776: Communication Teaching & Pedagogy – Developed a comprehensive teaching portfolio with lesson plans, classroom observations, and a reflective teaching philosophy grounded in Ignatian values, communication ethics, and adult learning theory to support inclusive, student-centered instruction. LINK
DPLS-778: Listen, Discern, Decide – Applied servant-leadership theory to explore listening as a moral, political, and organizational act; developed reflective narratives on NICU trauma and civic discourse to examine ethical leadership, narrative ethics, and trauma-informed, relationship-centered care. LINK
DPLS-773: Models of Community-Based Participatory Research – Conducted narrative inquiry and asset mapping in Lincoln, Arkansas using CBPR principles; integrated community voice, cultural humility, and reflexive leadership to explore place-based identity, social justice, and ethical research collaboration. LINK
