WWU Center for Leadership and Character

Mission

Cultivate leadership capacity to address the complex challenges facing our global community.

Purpose

Housed in the School of Business and Technology, the William Woods University Leadership Center facilitates leadership learning and development, establishes critical partnerships across corporate and community settings, and conducts groundbreaking research to advance the field of leadership and address the most pressing issues facing our organizations and communities. In alignment with the School of Business and Technology's and William Woods University’s missions, the center provides research-based and practical programs to build leadership capacity that create marketability for our students and elevates our organizations to maximize their full potential. Academic Departments and varied majors across our campus community are encouraged to collaborate with the Center on projects and proposals that drive innovation, maximize learning, and spark intellectual dialogue.

Strategic Alignment

The Center for Leadership and Character aligns with the following strategic priorities of William Woods University.

Strategic Priority 1: Strengthening our Academic Culture
Objective 1.2 – Encourage faculty growth and excellence through scholarship and professional development.
Objective 1.4 – Engage students in high-impact experiences in and outside the classroom.
Objective 1.5 – Strategically add new programs that complement or augment the existing curriculum.

Strategic Priority 4: Cultivate Strategic Partnerships
Objective 4.1 – Support current partnerships and alliances.
Objective 4.2 – Establish new strategic alliances and programs to reflect global trends in education and professions.

The Center for Leadership and Character Strategic Pillars

The Center maintains the following strategic pillars as functional areas for our success and the success of our students and stakeholders:

1. Experiential Leadership Learning and Development - Through formal and informal curricula, self-paced certificates, continuing education, workshops, and speakers’ series, the Center provides critical information to inform leadership practice and empower change in our world.
2. Partnership Development – Through the development of relationships with corporate and community organizations, the Center identifies opportunities for our students to walk with organizations to shape change and empower development that leads to sustainability, employment opportunities, and high-quality leadership development opportunities for stakeholders and the community at large.
3. Leadership Research - Collaboration among faculty, students, practitioners, and policymakers allows the Center to advance the diverse field of leadership to meet the needs of our changing world. Through critical research, like the National Leadership Education Research Agenda, the first National Delphi of Distinctive Leadership Program Characteristics, the Use of Facial Recognition Data to Map Leadership Learning and Engagement, and countless other projects, the Center is redefining what leadership learning and development reflect and how we approach strategic change for our world.

WWU offers certificate programs that can be completed in as little as 16 weeks. These thoughtfully designed certificate programs offer knowledge and credentials that support career growth and are delivered with flexibility in mind. Take a look at our certificate offerings today and see which one is the right fit for you!

Dr. Stephen Forsha - Associate Professor and Associate Provost for Graduate Programs

Email: stephen.forsha@williamwoods.edu

Stephen Forsha, D.Mgt., is the Associate Provost for Graduate Programs and an Associate Professor at William Woods University. He holds a doctoral degree in management, an MBA, and a bachelor’s degree in finance. He is a member of the Academy of Management, the Irish Academy of Management, and the Midwest Academy of Management. He serves as a reviewer for the Academy of Management and the Midwest Academy of Management and has been named an outstanding reviewer for both organizations. He has presented original works at various conferences including the Philosophy of Management’s International Conference, the Academy of Management Annual Conference, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s Annual Convention, and the Midwest Academy of Management’s Annual Conference. Stephen is a certified coach with USA Rugby and the Gaelic Athletic Association and is a national referee with the United States Gaelic Athletic Association. He is also the head coach in Hurling for the St. Louis Gaelic Athletic Association.

Dr. Miriam O'Callagan - Assistant Professor and Chair for Undergraduate Programs for the School of Business

Email: miriam.ocallaghan@williamwoods.edu

Miriam O'Callaghan, Ph.D., is the Chair of the Undergraduate Programs for the School of Business and Technology, Program Manager of the MA in Organizational Leadership program, and an Assistant Professor at William Woods University. She holds a Ph.D. in management and an MBA in human resource management. She is a certified MSCEIT assessor and emotional intelligence coach. In 2010, she founded a social welfare organization 'SEEDS' which she led for five years. She is internationally experienced and has worked with universities and training organizations in the USA, Australia, and India. Miriam has won many awards including the Young Scientist Award in behavioral sciences from MPCST, Government of M.P. (India). She has authored 13 research papers and two books on leadership and emotional intelligence. Her interests include nature, cooking, cinema, research, reading, and travel. She is an optimistic futurist who believes in total well-being.

Dr. Thomas Trice - Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Business and Technology

thomas.trice@WilliamWoods.edu

Thomas Trice, D.Mgt., is an Associate Professor and the Dean of the School of Business and Technology at William Woods University. He holds a doctoral degree in leadership management with a focus in the psychology and sociology of leadership and two master’s degrees from Webster University in human resource development and leadership management. His undergraduate education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale focused on criminal justice, administration of justice, and pre-law. Dr. Trice also received a certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of South Florida. Dr. Trice retired after more than 23 years of working in local, county, state, and federal law enforcement, and he is the President/CEO/Founder of TRIKEN Consulting, Inc. He has received numerous commendations for his public service including being named the “Illinois Top Law Enforcement Officer of the Year”, a “Top 50 Investigators in the United States”, “The Distinguished Alumni Award” from Southern University of Carbondale, and an “Excellence in Teaching Award”. He is also a nationally certified and Licensed Polygraph Examiner and Forensic Interviewer.

Scott Zimmerman LTC (Ret.) - Program Manager for the Missouri National Guard Show-Me GOLD program and Triumph Program

scott.zimmerman@williamwoods.edu

Scott Zimmerman is the program manager for the Missouri National Guard Show-Me GOLD program and the Triumph Program, a dual-credit partnership with the Missouri Military Academy. He holds an instructor rank in leadership and military studies at William Woods University. Prior to joining William Woods University, Scott served as a full-time Lieutenant Colonel in the Missouri Army National Guard. Scott is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Management and owns Zimmerman Strategies, a strategic planning consulting firm.

Cayla Daniels - Graduate Assistant for the Center for Leadership and Character

cayla.daniels@williamwoods.edu

Cayla Daniels is the Graduate Assistant for the Center for Leadership and Character focusing on event planning and facilitation, curricular development, and relationship building. She is enrolled in the MBA program within the School of Business and Technology and is a recent graduate from William Woods University earning a B.A. in American Sign Language Interpreting. During her undergraduate career, she founded the Black Student Union at William Woods University, served as president of the Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society, and was the Captain of the Cheer Team for three consecutive years. Cayla believes that leadership development aimed at positive, transformative, and sustainable change is at the forefront of systemic improvement.

Dr. Tony Andenoro - Professor of Business and Senior Director for Leadership and Strategic Initiatives

tony.andenoro@williamwoods.edu

Tony Andenoro, Ph.D., in addition to serving as the Director of the Center for Leadership and Character, serves as the Professor of Business and Senior Director for Leadership and Strategic Initiatives for William Woods University. His research includes the development of moral decision-making in leadership learners, the role of cognitive diversity and active learning strategies in the development of engagement, positive sentiment, and neuroplasticity within leadership learning environments, and the use of behavioral economics principles to shift attitudes and behaviors in under-resourced communities to address complex problems and create sustainability. He has published over 70 refereed and invited scholarly works, presented more than 90 refereed and invited conference papers, and secured and managed more than $10.8 million in gift and grant funding to advance his programmatic, teaching, and research initiatives.

Dr. Andenoro earned a BA in Communication from the University of Toledo, an MS in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education with an emphasis in Leadership Education from Texas A&M University.