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PhD Faculty & Staff

Please refer to the information below when contacting one of our staff. Admissions inquiries can be directed to our Director of PhD Admissions.

Program Leadership & Staff

Dr. Kevin Bottomley
Dr. Kevin Bottomley

Department Chair, Doctoral Programs / Assistant Professor PhD in Global Leadership
phone: 260.422.5561, ext. 2447
email: ksbottomley02@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham 105C

  • Ph.D.,  Leadership Studies, North Carolina A&T State University
  • M.P.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Research Specialties: 3D virtual learning environments; millennials in leadership; transformational leadership; sustainable leadership; educational leadership in a developing country.  Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods 

Hello, I’m Dr. Kevin Bottomley and I am proud to serve as Assistant Professor for the Ph.D. 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.

Greetings from Dr. Bottomley Close

Full Faculty Biography

Committee Assignments

Angie Fincannon
Dr. Angie Fincannon

Dean of the College of Business / Associate Professor PhD in Global Leadership
phone: 260.422.5561, ext. 2446
email: alfincannon@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham 103

  • Ed.D., Educational Administration, Ball State University
  • M.A., Health, Physical Education and Administration, Ball State University

Research Specialties: Women in leadership; dynamics in coaching and leadership; team dynamics and success; advancement best practices; leadership impact and efficacy. Mixed Methods.

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. 

Greetings from Dr. Fincannon Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Erik Bean

Professor of Practice, PhD in Global Leadership
email: EPBean@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham 105A

  • EdD, Educational Administration, University of Phoenix
  • MA, Journalism, Michigan State University

Research Specialties: Media Literacy including Artificial Intelligence and Hidden Agendas, Cultural Competence, Special Education, Mindfulness, Self-Leadership, and Best Teaching Practices. Qualitative and Content Analysis.

Hello, I’m Dr. Erik Bean and I am pleased to serve as Professor of Practice for the Ph.D. 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.

Greetings from Dr. Bean Close Biography

Full Faculty Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Amy Alexander
Dr. Amy DiGia

Coordinator of Doctoral Programs
phone: 260.422.5561, ext. 2236
email: amdigia@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham 105D

Kristin Conley
Kristin Conley, MSL

Director of PhD Admissions
phone: 260.422.5561, ext. 3417
email: knconley@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham, 306B

Program Faculty

Dr. Tina Abrefa-Gyan

Adjunct Faculty
email: tgabrefagyan03@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore
  • M.S.W., Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis

Research Specialties: Socio-demographic factors, social support; the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS; adoption of evidence-based practices amongst social workers; menstrual hygiene management; youth development; gender-based violence.

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 from Dr. Abrefa-Gyan Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Franziska Bieri
Dr. Franziska Bieri

Adjunct Faculty
email: fxbieri01@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Sociology, Emory University
  • Matura Degree in Modern Languages, Gymnasium Alpenstrasse, Switzerland

Research Specialties: Civil society organizations; corporate social responsibility; multi-stakeholder initiatives; comparative labor markets and educational systems.  Quantitative (survey research; international comparative analysis with panel data; regression analysis) and Qualitative (in-depth interviews; content analysis; case study research) Research Methods. 

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 from Dr. Bieri Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Jason Caldwell
Dr. Jason Caldwell

Adjunct Faculty
email: JJCaldwell01@indianatech.edu

  • D. M., Management (concentration in Global Leadership), Colorado Technical University
  • M.A.R., Church Ministries, Liberty University
  • B.M., Music Education (minor in Spanish), University of North Carolina

Research Specialties: Intercultural engagement/communication; Black Church leadership; Nonprofit management; Student Success; Higher education leadership; Cross-cultural leadership; Leadership development; Strategic leadership; Qualitative Research Methods (Phenomenological approach).

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!

Greetings from Dr. Caldwell Close

Committee Assignments

Dr. Aaron Cooley
Dr. Aaron Cooley

Adjunct Faculty
email: accooley01@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • M.A., Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research SpecialtiesGlobal leadership and ethic; organizational change and management; higher education law and policy; higher education leadership and student affairs; comparative higher education; politics and leadership.  Qualitative Research Method (e.g., case studies); Mixed Methods.

Committee Assignments

Dr. Christie Cooper
Dr. Christie Cooper

Adjunct Faculty
email: cecooper03@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Communication Studies-Organizational Communication, University of Texas at Austin
  • M.A., Communication Studies-Organizational Communication, University of Memphis
  • M.F.A., Theatre-Directing, University of Memphis

Research Specialties: Leadership in pedagogical practice, identity concepts and organizational membership, conflict management communication. Quantitative Research Method (Organizational identity concepts, small group communication, foundational research concepts, quantitative analysis, mediation, and negotiation).

Committee Assignments

Dr. Steven Dusseau
Dr. Steve Dusseau

Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
phone: 260.422.5561, ext. 2228
email: spdusseau@indianatech.edu
office: Zollner Engineering Center, 054

  • Ph.D., Engineering Management, University of Missouri – Rolla
  • MBA, Northwest Missouri State University

Quantitative Research Method.

Full Faculty Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Tonya Ensign
Dr. Tonya Ensign

Adjunct Faculty
email: taganderensign02@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D. Global Leadership & Change, Pepperdine University
  • M.A. Organizational Management, University of Phoenix

Research Specialties: Global leadership, intercultural relations, leadership development; adult learning, transformative learning; entrepreneurship; the intersection of leadership and well-being; change management. Qualitative Research Methods; Mixed Methods.

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.

Greetings from Dr. Ensign Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Ashraf Esmail

Adjunct Faculty
email: amesmail01@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D. Educational Leadership and Administration, Union Institute and University
  • M.A. Sociology, Georgia State University
  • M.S. Criminal Justice, Virginia University of Lynchburg

Research Specialties: Urban education; multicultural education; violence in education; educational leadership in secondary and higher education; English as a second language; online learning; and cultural diversity. Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods.

Hello, I’m Dr. Ashraf Esmail and I serve as an adjunct faculty member in the Ph.D. 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 from Dr. Esmail Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Crystal Karn
Dr. Crystal Karn

Associate Professor of Business
email: clkarn@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Global Leadership, Indiana Tech (2013)
  • MBA, Indiana Tech (2009)

Research Interests: Emotional Intelligence, Servant Leadership, Behavioral Finance and Economics, Motivation (Intrinsic and Extrinsic) , Followership, International Sales Teams, Transformational and Transactional Leadership, Quantitative & Qualitative Research Methods.

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 from Dr. Karn Close Biography

Full Faculty Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Matthew Kutz
Dr. Matthew Kutz

Adjunct Faculty
email: mrkutz01@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Global Leadership, Lynn University
  • M.S., University of Toledo
  • M.Ed., University of  Toledo

Research Specialties: Healthcare leadership; leadership competencies; contextual intelligence; change management; leadership culture. Quantitative Research Method/Mixed Methods (i.e. Delphi Technique).

Committee Assignments

Josh Long
Dr. Joshua Long

Professor of Economics
phone: 260.422.5561, ext. 2433
email: jjlong@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham Business Center, Room 215A

  • Ph.D., Education, Capella University
  • M.A., Economics, Walsh College
  • M.B.A., Management & Marketing, Indiana Institute of Technology

Research Specialties: Economics education; monetary economics; higher education; adult learning theory; community colleges; leadership.  Qualitative/Quantitative Research Methods.

Full Faculty Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin
Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin

Associate Professor
phone: 260.422.5561, ext. 2140
email: srlugarbrettin@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham Business Center, Room 210

  • D.B.A., Marketing, Anderson University
  • M.B.A., Bethel College

Research Specialties: Market-oriented strategy; women’s leadership; design thinking; entrepreneurial learning communities; business model innovation; instructional design and innovation; global strategic branding; public relations. Quantitative/Qualitative Research Methods.

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.

Greetings from Dr. Lugar Brettin Close Biography

Full Faculty Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Amy Lyndon
Dr. Amy Lyndon

Adjunct Faculty
email: aelyndon01@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Social Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • M.A., Social Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • Graduate Certificate, Women & Gender Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Research Specialties: Global women leaders; intimate partner violence; stalking and bullying; human trafficking; stigma of mental illness and prejudice, etc.  Quantitative/Qualitative Research Methods. 

Committee Assignments

Dr. Jennifer Murnane-Rainey
Dr. Jennifer Murnane-Rainey

Adjunct Faculty
email: jamurnane-rainey06@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Family & Consumer Sciences Education, Iowa State University
  • M.B.A., Management, University of Nebraska
  • Graduate Certificate, Family Financial Planning, Iowa State University

Research Specialties: Nonprofit leadership; knowledge leadership; knowledge management; knowledge sharing; human capital management; organizational performance; applied management; consumer education. Qualitative Research Method (Narrative, grounded theory, case study, naturalistic inquiry, phenomenology quantitative research, survey, quasi-experiment).

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.

More About Dr. Murnane Rainey Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Daryl Ono

Adjunct Faculty
email: dkono01@indianatech.edu

  • PhD, Business Administration – Finance, California Miramar University
  • M.S., Operations Research, Southern Methodist University
  • M.S, Engineering Management, Southern Methodist University
  • M.S., Finance, Golden Gate University
  • M.S., Systems Engineering, Southern Methodist University
  • MBA, Claremont Graduate School

Research Specialties: Management by objectives; financial economics; systems engineering; mathematical programming.

Hello, my name is Daryl Ono and it is a privilege to be a part of the Indiana Institute of Technology.  Before I moved into education full-time I split my career in the financial services business and the engineering industry. 

I truly believe in the on-line teaching modality and I think it will become a critical component of higher education in the future. The on-line teaching modality continues to improve technologically and will be an important step into becoming a “life-long learner”.  Research and data analytics are becoming increasingly more prominent.

I am a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst (CCE/A).

In my free time I enjoy playing basketball and working on cars.

I look forward to working with you. 

Thank you.

Greetings from Dr. Ono Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Elaine Pontillo
Dr. Elaine Pontillo

Adjunct Faculty
email: eapontillo@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Curriculum & Supervision, University of Pittsburgh
  • M.A., Counselor Education, University of Pittsburgh
  • M.Ed., Secondary Education, Trinity College (CT)

Research Specialties: Higher education administration; higher education accreditation/legal aspects. Qualitative/Quantitative Research Methods.

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.

Greetings from Dr. Pontillo Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Michelle Scott
Dr. Michelle Scott

Adjunct Faculty
email: mtscott01@indianatech.edu

  • Ed.D. Higher Education Administration (2007), Morgan State University
  • M.A. Organizational Management (2004), University of Phoenix
  • M.L.S. Employee Relations Law (1986), Antioch Law School

Research Specialties: Educational policy; governance; organizational development; organizational leadership; corporate social responsibility; higher education administration; community college leadership; case study approach to research. Qualitative Research Method.

Committee Assignments

Dr. Carly Speranza

Adjunct Faculty
email: crsperanza02@indianatech.edu

  • Ed.D., Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies, Creighton University
  • M.S., Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University
  • M.S., Political and International Relations, Troy University

Research Specialties: Organizational behavior; trust; expatriate leadership; cross-cultural leadership; women’s leadership; government administration and policy; strategic planning. Qualitative Research Methods.

Committee Assignments

Dr. Arthur Snyder
Dr. Arthur Snyder

University President Emeritus, Adjunct Faculty
email: aesnyder@indianatech.edu

  • Ed.D., Innovation & Leadership, Wilmington University
  • M.B.A., Strategic Management, Barry University

Senior Fellow, Association of Governing Boards for Colleges and Universities

Research Specialties: Global higher education policy; leading large organizations; executive leadership in higher education; conflict management; organizational behavior; intuitive leadership. Quantitative/Qualitative Research Methods. 

Committee Assignments

Dr. Heather St. Peters

Associate Professor
phone: 206.422.5561, ext. 2465
email: hystpeters@indianatech.edu
office: Cunningham, Room 311A

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Global Leadership in Organizational Management (2013)
    Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne, IN
  • Master of Science in Communication (1994)
    Illinois State University, Normal, IL
  • Master of Science in Political Science (1994)
    Illinois State University, Normal, IL
  • Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (1991)
    Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL

Research Specialties: Narrative pedagogy and narrative identity work; professional identity/professional dilemmas; cultural intelligence; leadership development (e.g., dramaturgical training); strengths-based training and development; service and experiential learning; training program development; leadership and healthcare education; quantitative (e.g., survey, quasi-experimental), qualitative research (e.g., interview, focus group, narrative analysis, content analysis), mixed methods research (e.g., phenomenological pragmatic design, exploratory descriptive design)

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.

Greetings from Dr. St. Peters Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Julie Turner

Adjunct Faculty
email: jeturner02@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis
  • M.A., Adult and Continuing Education, Michigan State University
  • B.A. Sociology and Religion, Hope College

Research Specialties: Nonprofit management; service learning; experiential learning.

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 from Dr. Turner Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Jennie Walker

Adjunct Faculty
email: jlwalker05@indianatech.edu

  • Ph.D., Higher Education (global leadership development focus), University of Denver
  • M.A., Mass Communication, University of Colorado at Boulder

Research Specialties:Global leadership; global leadership development; women’s leadership; cross-cultural management; HRM; organizational development; humanistic learning approaches. Qualitative Research Method; Mixed Methods; International Leadership Research.

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 from Dr. Walker Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Brenda Williams

Adjunct Faculty
email: bcwilliams02@indianatech.edu

  • Ed.D., Higher Education Administration, The George Washington University
  • M.A. Ed. & H.D., Rehabilitation Counseling, The George Washington University
  • B.S. Speech Pathology & Audiology, New York University

Research Specialties: Disability studies; leadership & systems thinking; community college leadership; student development as a discipline, multiculturalism in qualitative research and hermeneutic phenomenological approach to research. Qualitative Research Methods.

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!

Greetings from Dr. Williams Close Biography

Committee Assignments

Dr. Woody Wu

Adjunct Faculty
email: wdwu01@indianatech.edu

  • D.M., Organizational Leadership, University of Phoenix
  • M.S., Telecommunications, Southern Methodist University
  • M.A., Journalism, University of North Texas

Research Specialties: Global leadership; military leadership; educational leadership; risk leadership. Quantitative Research Method. 

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.

Greetings from Dr. Wu Close Biography

Committee Assignments

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