Scholars in action: Organizational change leadership program showcases faculty-student research collaboration

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's organizational change leadership Ph.D. program is celebrating a major collaborative achievement as faculty and students joined forces in a new book, “Internal Consultants: The Driving Force Behind Innovation and Success in Organizations,” published by Emerald Publishing. The volume, edited by Dr. Vanessa Hills, faculty specialist I in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology, is part of the Research in Management Consulting Series and explores the unique challenges consultants face, the distinct value they bring to their organizations, and the best practices that define effective internal consulting.

In addition to faculty-authored chapters from Hills and Dr. David Szabla, the volume boasts two chapters written by doctoral students: Amanda Jeppesen and Cate Nolan. Jeppesen’s chapter, Internal Consulting in Higher Education: Perspectives from the Field, and Nolan’s, Empowering Internal Consultants: Upskilling, Ongoing Training, and Professional Development in a Transforming Workplace, both draw on the authors’ professional experiences and on key concepts covered in organizational change leadership courses. 

“Having an early-career publication in a respected research series is par for the course among OCL Ph.D. students,” says Hills. “Students like Amanda and Cate successfully present at international conferences and publish in peer-reviewed outlets while in the OCL doctoral program.” 

Faculty-student collaboration, as in this volume, is at the heart of the program's curriculum, where students work closely with mentors on research, writing, and applied projects that often lead to conference presentations and publications. This new book exemplifies that model by bringing together WMU faculty and student voices as well as perspectives from global scholar-practitioners in a single, cohesive contribution to the conversation on internal consulting.

To learn more about the book and to purchase, visit Emerald Publishing.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.