PhD Faculty & Staff

Hello, I’m Dr. Kevin Bottomley and I am proud to serve as Assistant Professor for the PhD in Global Leadership program here at Indiana Tech. I have worked most of my career (24-years) in the YMCA with the last 15-years serving as a branch Executive Director.  I see myself as a true scholar-practitioner who looks for ways to apply research in the field.  Before coming to Indiana Tech I have also been teaching in doctoral programs for the past 7-years. 

I look forward to connecting with our students and faculty who are also scholar-practitioners who want to change the world.

Hi, I am Dr. Angie Fincannon.  I have been in education throughout my career, with the past 25 years serving in Higher Education.  I have a vast array of experiences, some of which include teaching junior high and high school students, coaching volleyball at the collegiate level,  serving as a tenured faculty member and department chair, serving in several academic leadership roles surrounding Dean, Director of Athletics, Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor.  I have led several educational and athletic global trips, and am committed to leading our program to the best possible global opportunities available for our PhD students. 

What I have enjoyed most about my career in higher education leadership is the opportunity to provide leadership, strategy and support to create and enhance opportunities for students.  I believe that the common denominator for success in all leadership roles is to gather outstanding people for a team and do everything that can be done to help that team’s potential be actualized through growth, support and motivation.  Team dynamics, leadership efficacy and leadership of women are of particular interest to me. 

I love the PhD program in Global Leadership here at Indiana Tech!  Our students are outstanding, working professionals with full lives and responsibilities, but in our program because there is a calling for high impact leadership.  Our program strives to provide the best possible combination of top quality academic accessibility with collaboration, connection and support from our faculty and staff.  We make no apologies for the rigor in our program but we believe that, with the right amount of support along the way, our students will meet and surpass our expectations. 

Hello, I’m Dr. Erik Bean and I am pleased to serve as Professor of Practice for the PhD in Global Leadership program here at Indiana Tech. The latter bulk of my career has spanned teaching and administrative roles in higher and secondary education as well as several journalistic efforts including serving as a section editor of a John Wiley & Sons leadership journal, an editor of a minority newspaper, and reporter. I have also written award-winning academic book titles in curriculum, media literacy, and self-leadership. I began facilitating classes online during its infancy in the late 1990s. Concurrently, I was a technical writer for the Big Three Detroit automakers and I also ghost wrote a groundbreaking ISO/QS9000 quality procedure book. My specialization was marketing communications and later customer experience (CX), and I also held a web front end creator partnership. More recently, I was selected as a First-Place recipient of the 2022 Henry Ford Innovation Nation annual contest for creating information literacy curriculum used in community college and library settings. Today, I am the Michigan Chapter Leader, Media Literacy Now. I also am a founder of a Michigan 501(c)3 mental health nonprofit. My number one priority is to help all those connected to our program achieve their professional goals so they can lead a global conversation as a change agent the world over.

Hi, I am Dr. Tina Abrefa-Gyan. I have been in education for the most part, with the past thirteen years serving in Higher Education.  I have a vast array of experiences, some of which include guest speaking at K1-12 schools, serving as a tenure-track faculty member, and chairing some committees, and leading faculty-led international service learning, faculty-exchange global trip programs.  I am prepared and committed to leading our program and the students to the best possible global opportunities in the Washington, DC area and around the world. 

I believe that the single most important quality of a leader is the ability to gather team of experts with teachable personality traits to provide innovations that will help improve the quality of life of people in the global sphere. Gender, ethnicity, development, and leadership of women are of particular interest to me. I am honored to be part of a strong team of educators with schola-practice orientation, who value student relationships and growth, academic excellence, and cutting-edge research.

Greetings! I have been an adjunct faculty member at Indiana Tech since 2017. In this role, I have enjoyed mentoring students in their graduate training and doctoral dissertation research.  I teach several courses in the program, including the quantitative research methods class, and I serve on numerous dissertation committees. I was honored to receive our program’s Faculty of the Year Award 2021-22.  Last but not least, I have been involved in several administrative committees regarding curriculum development and course redesigns. It has been a pleasure to work alongside great colleagues in this program.   

My research focuses on the institutional contexts of public-private partnerships, the role of trust in civic engagement, and school-to-work transitions. I collaborate with researchers from a variety of countries and disciplinary backgrounds. In 2022, I co-edited the “Handbook of International and Cross-Cultural Leadership Research Processes: Perspectives, Practice, Instruction” (with Yulia Tolstikov-Mast and Jennie Walker). My recent papers have appeared in “Advances in Global Leadership”, “European Societies”, and the “International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy”. I regularly present at international conferences. Most recently, I presented on the role of global multi-stakeholder initiatives in building peace.  Those research activities closely guide my teaching. At the same time, I gain new perspectives and rich insights from my work with students which in turn inform my research.  

Greetings! I am Dr. Jason J. Caldwell, and I am thrilled to be joining Indiana Tech as an adjunct faculty member. I started as a freshman seminar instructor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and transitioned to become an Assistant Professor and Director of the John Wesley University School of Business. After my tenure at JWU, I served as a non-profit executive director, interim assistant dean for student success and part-time instructor in the Willie A. Deese College of Business & Economics at North Carolina A&T State University, where I led a global immersion course in Panama, and the CEO/Senior Consultant of Ubuntu Consulting. I have a passion for helping people find their purpose, and my belief is rooted in the philosophy of a shared humanity. I look forward to working with you as you traverse along this journey!

Hello! I teach courses and coordinate the Independent Global Practicum (IGP) in Indiana Tech’s Ph.D. program. The IGP allows students to combine an international personal, business, or academic trip with the Global Practicum course. I am honored to be part of a strong team of faculty and staff who value student relationships, academic excellence, rigorous research, and application of theory to practice.

I have been teaching in higher ed part time since 2010 when I was invited to teach a Management & Organizational Behavior course. In addition to teaching, I have been an executive coach and consultant to more than 1,000 global leaders spanning over a dozen start-up and growth stage companies since 1996. This work has largely been through a private equity group who was the primary investor and focused on disruptive technologies that had global applications. I hold three professional coaching certifications and am a member of Harvard’s Institute of Coaching and the International Coach Federation. Prior to this, I held corporate operational roles as a Director at Honeywell, Inc. and taught global leadership programs to employees world-wide as part of an internal executive education team for eight years.

My undergraduate degrees are in Finance and International Business, and I have lived and/or worked in Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. In 2013 while working in Indonesia, I co-founded a corporate CSA and a non-profit organization that adopted a village on the island of Borneo and has provided over a half a million US$ in educational opportunities and scholarships to date.

With decades of real-world corporate and entrepreneurial experience, my specialty is assisting PhD students with business-related research topics. My interdisciplinary research interests mirror my industry experience as I iterate theory and practice in leadership, entrepreneurship, transformative learning and change management. I am a consulting editor for the Journal of Transformative Education and serve, attend and present at conferences.

When I’m not in my office, you can find me hiking in the mountains of Colorado, gardening on my small urban farm, leading yoga and mindfulness sessions, and spending time with my family.

Hello, I’m Dr. Ashraf Esmail and I serve as an adjunct faculty member in the PhD in Global Leadership program at Indiana Tech.  It is an honor and privilege to work for Indiana Tech. I have worked in Higher Education for 20 years and doctoral programs for over 16 years.  It is my honor and privilege to mentor doctoral students to becoming international scholars.

Greetings!  I am a full-time faculty member for the College of Business and teach leadership, management, organizational behavior, and financial services courses for the day program at Indiana Tech.  I also teach in the MBA program and PhD programs.   Prior to working full-time at Indiana Tech I worked in finance. In my spare time I enjoy kayaking and spending time with my two children.

Greetings! I am Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin. My students refer to me as “Dr. Staci.” I have been teaching in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship for over 17 years. My professional experience includes work to support the international market development and growth for a global consumer products firm in Brazil and Western Europe, development and management of strategic marketing plans for non-profit and for-profit organizations, and business development and growth consulting for start-up and existing business owners. I have presented on the topics of women’s entrepreneurial and economic empowerment for the State Department’s Study of the United States Institute, instructional design and teaching at regional teaching conferences, and business innovation and growth at the Edward Lowe Foundation and Anderson University Flagship Enterprise Center. I have published multiple articles in the area of scholarship of teaching. I teach the OLM 7002 Strategic Branding and Public Relations course and enjoy engaging learners in sharing how their own experiences connect them to global branding and influence.

Hello!  I’m Dr. Jenny Murnane-Rainey. I have been an adjunct faculty member at Indiana Tech since 2017 and have been teaching at the university level since 2000.  I really love the program here because it allows me to meet and learn from students and faculty all over the world with different backgrounds and experiences.  My personal leadership and academic experience is somewhat varied.  I began my professional career in the financial services industry where I held positions such as financial analyst, customer service manager, and director of account transfers.  I have also held numerous leadership positions in higher education ranging from curriculum development, operations, research, and sales. In 2015, I transitioned into consulting services in the areas of human capital management, strategy, and analytics and I currently own my own consulting business, JAM Group.

My career has involved service at several different types of higher education institutions, large public universities, a public two-year college, and a small private university, all located in different states.  My roles included faculty, department head, dean and vice president for academic and student affairs.  A highlight of my career is the creation and launch of this program and subsequently seeing so many of our students enroll in and graduate with their Ph.D. 

In addition, I have served many years as a consultant-evaluator with the Higher Learning Commission, the regional institutional accreditor for 19 states in the mid-section of the United States.  This work involves reviewing colleges and universities with regard to their institutional accreditation as well as institutional change requests.  I also serve as a panelist to review the work of other teams who have conducted reviews to assure consistency in the recommendations emanating from their reviews.

Meet Dr. Heather Y. Z. St. Peters, your friendly Associate Professor of Business Administration at Indiana Tech. With a wealth of experience spanning 25 years in higher education, Dr. St. Peters brings a warm and approachable demeanor to her teaching and interactions.

Having earned her doctorate in Global Leadership from Indiana Tech, along with two Master of Science degrees from Illinois State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University, Dr. St. Peters has a rich academic background complemented by her year of immersive study in Japan at Nanzan University.

But her passion extends far beyond the classroom. Alongside her husband, Dr. Tim St. Peters, and their three daughters, Dr. St. Peters has engaged in meaningful volunteer work in Klaipeda, Lithuania since 2001, fostering cross-cultural connections and enriching experiences for students from Eurasia.

In her teaching, Dr. St. Peters strives to create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. She encourages her students to explore interdisciplinary perspectives and engage with real-world issues, working with organizations such as Allen County Right to Life, American Red Cross, and others. Her dedication to the holistic development of her students shines through in her commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing community.

Beyond academia, Dr. St. Peters embraces life’s pleasures, whether it’s spending quality time with family and friends, exploring new destinations, indulging in culinary delights, or simply enjoying a game of cards. She’s also an avid reader, baker, crafter, and enjoys leisurely walks with her beloved Cavapoo, Pooka.

Dr. Heather Y. Z. St. Peters is more than just an educator; she’s a compassionate mentor, a dedicated volunteer, and a lifelong learner who warmly welcomes everyone into her world of knowledge and exploration.

Hello! I’m Dr. Thum. I grew up in the Mid-South and currently live in the Washington, DC, area. I joined Indiana Tech’s adjunct faculty in January 2024. My career before then included 30 years of experience in customer experience, corporate communication, global business development, influencer marketing, and media in government, technology, and professional services firms. I have several peer-reviewed, scholarly publications on my CV including more than a dozen business case studies and business foundations modules with Sage Publishing. I am a past business case writing workshop presenter at the International Leadership Association Conference. My book, The Sage Works Guide to Global Leadership, is set to be published in 2026.

Dr. Turner has over twenty years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, having served as a K-12 teacher and administrator, fund development/grant writing expert, and serving in a variety of leadership capacities through organizations such as Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater St. Louis, Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis, Today and Tomorrow Educational Foundation, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Turner is a Professor of Nonprofit Administration at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at Lindenwood University – Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship. She serves on the board of directors for Community Council of St. Charles County and is the Regional Chair of Thrivent Financial-Heartland Region and is actively involved as a community volunteer in a wide range within school, nonprofit, and church settings.

Dr. Turner was recognized as “Professor of the Year” by the Lindenwood Student Government Association (2020); received the “Emerson Award for Teaching Excellence” (2015) and the “Lindenwood Service Award” (2018) as well as serving as a Faculty Fellow for Student Engagement in 2019. She was recently notified that she will be a recipient of the ATHENA Leadership Award for Women-St. Charles County for her professional achievements, commitment to community betterment, and to the advancement of women.

Greetings! I have been teaching in the Ph.D. program since 2016, focusing on global leadership development, global talent management, and international leadership research courses. During this time, I have also served on numerous dissertation committees and have led global practicums. I genuinely enjoy the close working relationships we are able to build with students and our focus on excellence in academics and professional practice. I am a proud recipient of the Faculty of the Year award in 2019 and 2021 for the Ph.D. program.

My full-time role outside of Indiana Tech is serving as a Director of Leadership Strategy for Accenture. My role allows me to provide executive assessment, strategic leadership advisement and coaching to senior executives and their teams within leading corporations around the world. My career background is in corporate leadership development and talent management within Fortune 500 organizations, as an external consulting partner to them, and as an executive education partner at universities. I have worked with diverse audiences in North America, South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.  I have depth of experience in Latin America, having studied and worked in Spain, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru. I’ve also held several faculty roles in global leadership Ph.D. programs and graduate business leadership programs. My Ph.D. research focus was in global leadership development methods. After graduating from University of Denver, my post-doctoral fellowship was at Thunderbird School of Global Management in the Najafi Global Mindset Institute, where I worked alongside world-renowned professors and researchers in Global Mindset.

My research tends to focus on global leadership development and cross-cultural management.  I frequently present my research at academic and professional conferences (ILA, AOM, SHRM, ATD, HCI, etc.) and in publications (Journal of Management Education, Advances in Global Leadership, HR People & Strategy Journal, SHRM We Know Next, Inside HR Magazine, etc.). I have co-authored three books: Developing Your Global Mindset: The Handbook for Successful Global Leaders; Teaching Methods in Business: Experiential Exercises in the Classroom; and Handbook of International and Cross-Cultural Leadership Research. Current research activities include serving as a CCI for the GLOBE U.S.A. research team, exploring the effectiveness of international immersion experiences for global leadership development, and examining the motivations, obstacles and success strategies of women leaders.

Greetings, I am Dr. Asma Wasim. I have been in the field of education for most of my career, having spent the last 15 years working in higher education. I have produced curricula for several institutions and taught science and public health courses.

My research focuses on potential and current challenges for women in leadership roles in developing nations, particularly when intersectionality is taken into consideration. The study of intersectionality examines the ways in which a person’s experiences are influenced by the intersections of many facets of their identity, including gender, race, education, and class. Because of socioeconomic restrictions, cultural norms, and institutional injustice, women leaders in developing nations frequently confront additional challenges. Intersectionality, however, also draws attention to these women’s fortitude as they confront and overcome several levels of injustice. We can encourage the growth of inclusive and equitable leadership that empowers women and promotes advancement in various communities by recognizing and addressing intersecting elements.

I look forward to connecting with the students and share my experiences to have a profound influence on their learning journeys.

Research Specialties: Disability studies; student affairs, DEI in higher education, leadership & systems thinking; community college leadership; multiculturalism in qualitative research and hermeneutic phenomenological approach to research. Mainly qualitative research methods, but also quantitative on occasion.

Well, hello there! I am Dr. Brenda C. Williams and I have had a long career in Maryland with 20 years in Higher Education in several areas: HR, Student Affairs, IT and Workforce Development and Continuing Education where I was the administrator of record and part of the opening the first Refugee Center representing students from over 70 countries and watch them become New Americans!

I have loved teaching as an adjunct professor for Indiana Tech University since 2013 in the PhD Leadership Program. I have had the good fortune to work with the students in the PhD in Global Leadership and watch them thrive and finish their doctoral journey. I am also very humbled to have been voted Faculty of the Year in 2017 and 2019! It has been a real joy to have served on approximately 20 dissertation committees and be able to say, “Welcome them to the Academy.”

A few fun facts about me: I am an identical twin my sister, Linda, and I have a pure-bred Bichon Frise, Luci! Living in Maryland has been a great location as I am close to D.C. and Virginia, which we call the DMV with the best blue crabs in the nation!

Hello, I am Dr. Woody Wu. I have lived in Dallas for 40+ years and enjoy the food, weather, and people here. During the weekends, I enjoy playing guitar and driving my convertible.

I have a Doctoral of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from University of Phoenix, a M.S. degree in Telecommunications from Southern Methodist University and a M.A. degree in Journalism from University of North Texas. I have also completed 40 credit hours in a Master of Computer Science program.

I have been working in the computing, networking and telecommunication industries for 20+ years. I have worked for Japan-based NEC and Sweden-based Ericsson as a permanent employee, for U.S.-based MCIWorldCom as a contractor, and for China & U.S.-based Santera (a start-up company) as an employee and stockholder – enjoy working for different types of companies. During my career in networking and telecommunications, I have been serving different roles including CEO, manager/supervisor/leader, system engineer, standard engineer, patent engineer, designer, tester, quality assurance engineer, customer support engineer, and technical training instructor.

I have 5 telecommunications patents granted and holding the Cisco CCAI certificate. Besides teaching in the industry for Ericsson and Santera, I also have 10+ years teaching experiences at universities for the management, networking, and telecommunications courses.