Marleen Bett has a broad array of experience in sales and marketing in Nairobi, Kenya. Her prior involvements have led her to develop interests in the field of strategy, innovation, and green economies.

When she's away from her work, Marleen enjoys jogging, traveling, experiencing new cultures, and networking with other professionals. She is excited to be joining SSLS in the fall!

Position:

Category and Brand Activation Manager at PZ Cussons East Africa Limited

Previous Degrees:

• B.S. Industrial Chemistry with Management, Kenyatta University
• M.B.A Strategic Management, United States International University - Africa

Research Interests:

• Digital Disruption
• Innovation and Strategy
• Green Economies

Emily Higham has served in JMU's Office of Residence Life since returning to her alma mater in July 2019. She also has experience working for the resident student population both at William & Mary and Randolph-Macon College. Before working in higher ed, Emily spent four years in the classroom teaching middle school math and science.

Emily strives to bring a spirit of teaching and coaching into her role as a supervisor when training new staff. She continues to bring that attitude of lifelong learning into her work, despite no longer being in the classroom. 

Beyond her work, Emily enjoys downtime at home with her husband and two daughters, fitness, cooking, and finding a good cup of coffee.

Position:

Area Director in the Office of Residence Life at James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

• B.S. Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, James Madison University
• M.A.T. Middle School Education, James Madison University
• M.Ed., Student Personnel in Higher Education, University of Florida

Research Interests:

• Parenting While Working in Residence Life
• Student Leader Well-Being and Job Satisfaction
• Onboarding and Training in Student Affairs

Ibedionu Joy Obioma's passion for research and teaching drives her decision to become a leading researcher and faculty member in organizational science and leadership, conducting empirical research that organizations can rely on to navigate the complexities of dynamic business environments and address diverse management challenges.

Joy is interested in exploring the roles of team leadership and membership in resilience building, along with the effectiveness of resilience building programs. Furthermore, she would like to investigate how organizations' unique contextual factors interact with external environmental factors to influence corporate governance.

In her spare time, Joy likes spending time with family, traveling, and watching movies.

Position:

General Manager of Finance and Administration at Shaybet Services Limited

Previous Degrees:

• B.S. Banking and Finance, Adekunle Ajasin University
• M.B.A. Finance, University of Lagos

Research Interests:

• Workplace Team Resilience
• Corporate Governance

Fadi Majzoub is a goal-oriented and entrepreneurial-minded senior executive with a history of success in developing and growing business, increasing profitability, effecting positive organizational change, improving productivity and efficiency, and strengthening team performance. 

Known as the "go-to person" for creating future-aligned solutions for interim issues, Fadi strives to use his experience to stimulate his team's interest in change and inspire them to achieve their strategic goals.

Positon:

CEO of Westford Lebanon and Business Growth Expert at ActionCOACH

Previous Degrees:

• B.Eng. Civil & Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut
• M.B.A., University of Wales

Research Interests:

• Business Strategies
• Business Growth

Jennifer L. Powers' respect and appreciation for leadership drove her down the path of lifelong learning at JMU. Her passion for leadership began as a high school athlete, leading her to obtain degrees in Sports and Health Sciences and Sports Management. She has over 20 years of experience as a leader and intelligence analyst in the Department of Defense as a soldier and contractor.

As a retired Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the U.S. Army, Jennifer is well-versed in taking every opportunity to challenge herself and positively impact those she serves. She firmly believes in the embodiment of ethics, morals, and values, and will always empower others to have the courage to stand up for what is right. 

Jennifer loves to spend her free time with her four-year-old daughter reading, hiking, and dancing around the kitchen! She also enjoyes watching sports, landscaping, starting home improvement projects, and going on Jeep adventures with her partner and family.

Previous Degrees:

• B.S. Sports and Health Sciences, American Military University
• M.S. Sports Management, American Military University

Research Interests:

• Equality and Diversity in Organizational Leadership
• Synergy and Trust Among Organizational Levels
• Application of Leadership Theories to Cross-Pollinate Innovation Amongst Organizational Levels

Brent Ritter has served in higher education and the private sector throughout his professional career. His true passion lies in higher education, and he hopes to contribute to the field through devoted research and teaching. 

Originally from a small town in North Carolina, Brent enjoys spending his time outside of the classroom with his wife, Rachel, going on hikes and vegetable gardening.

Position:

Credentials Analyst and Academic Advisor at the University of Wyoming and Co-Owner of Ritter Ventures, LLC

Previous Degrees:

• B.A. American History, University of North Carolina at ChapelHill
• B.A. Peace, War, and Defense, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• M.A. Higher Education, Community College & University Leadership, Appalachian State University

Research Interests:

• Improved Employee Retention and Satisfaction in Higher Education

Virginia "Ginny" Soenksen has amassed a wealth of experience working in the museum industry through her roles at the Tufts University Art Gallery, the Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, the Ringling Museum, the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, and the Frist Art Museum. She has been an invited lecturer at the San Diego Museum and the Textile Museum at George Washington University. Her publications include several articles in Textiles Asia, and Textiles of Japan: The Thomas Murray Collection (Prestel, 2019). 

Position:

Director of the Madison Art Collection at James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

• B.S. Psychology, University of Mary Washington
• M.A. Art History, Tufts University

Research Interests:

• Academic Museums
• The Museum & Transformational Leadership
• Cross-Cultural Leadership

Barnabas Suva boasts over a decade of success as qualified finance and administrative professional in the realm of international non-governmental organizations and international education sectors. He leverages his experience to align business objectives with those of management and employees throughout designated business units.

You can learn more about Barnabas by visiting him on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Position:

Administrative Officer at the Association of International Schools in Africa

Previous Degrees:

• B.S. International Business Administration, United States International University - Africa
• M.B.A. Strategic Management, United States International University - Africa

Research Interests:

• Sustainability for Not-for-Profit Organizations w/o Continued Donor Funding
• Financial and Non-Financial Accountability for Not-for-Profit Organizations
• Integrated Reporting for Not-for-Profit Organizations
• Sustainable Finance Models for Not-for-Profit Organizations
• Effective Fundraising and Grants Management in Not-for-Profit Organizations