Ph.D. Organizational Leadership Students to Present at International Leadership Conference

Three currently enrolled students in Shenandoah University’s Ph.D. program in organizational leadership have had presentations accepted for the International Leadership Association’s (ILA) 27th Global Conference in Prague, Czechia, October 15-18.

Ahmed Alqahtani, MPA, will present “Uniting the World Through Sports: Saudi Arabia’s Leadership and the FIFA World Cup 2034.” This is Ahmed’s second presentation in as many years at ILA. This year he also served as a proposal reviewer. “This opportunity means a lot to me, as it extends my leadership inquiry and research practice that was cultivated in the Ph.D. program.” Ahmed is serving as a Royal Saudi Air Force training officer and is attached to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.

Cathy Felmlee-Shanholz, OTD, and Michelle Gamber, DrPH, will present as a panel on “Interprofessional Leadership in Undergraduate Education as a Pathway to Healthcare Careers.” Cathy is the occupational therapy program director at McDaniel College in Maryland, and Michelle is the director of public health graduate programs at Shenandoah University. Also included on the panel are Rachel Guilfoyle (McDaniel College) and Casey Keck (University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences).

The ILA’s Global Conference is described as “the world’s largest cross-sector gathering of leaders and leadership scholars, educators, and development professionals” with the goal of offering an opportunity to discover innovative leadership research and practice, forge meaningful connections, enhance skills, find solutions, and shape the future landscape of leadership. For more than 25 years, the International Leadership Association has been the professional home of a global community of leaders and leadership researchers, educators, and development specialists who believe that leadership is the key to a just and thriving future for all people. The ILA has advanced the study and practice of leadership by creating opportunities for members to connect and engage with one another to explore innovative ideas, create new resources, and multiply collective impact.

Shenandoah University’s Ph.D.: Organizational Leadership is designed to enhance professional practice, building on a foundation of critical thinking, social analysis, evidence-based practices, professional and social ethics, and organizational and leadership theory. It employs an intentional learning community focus, creating an intellectual collaborative where diversity and divergence of perspective are critical to developing the ability to think clearly and deeply.

For more information, contact John R. Goss, III, Ph.D. at jgoss@su.edu.