Engagement

Leadership

Professional Leadership: Taking on a leadership role in my academic networks has been a key recent approach for me to both broaden my network and my impact. In 2021, I became a Representative-at-Large for the Research Methods group of the Strategic Management Society. Through this leadership role, I was able to speak on the Research Methods Doctoral Student and Junior Faculty Consortia in April 2021, as well co-organize a PDW (professional development workshop) at the Strategic Management Society Annual Conference in September 2021 on “Best Practices for Reliable Quantitative Research in Strategy.”

Board Leadership: Because part of my research focuses on non-profit strategy, the most direct way my work continues to have external engagement and impact is through my service work with non-profits. In particular, in 2019, as vice-chair of the board of the Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes affiliate, I served as a board leader in navigating a successful merger with four other Planned Parenthood affiliates in New York State to form Planned Parenthood of Greater New York as of January 1, 2020. I will continue to serve on the board of the merged affiliate as a board member and on the Governance Committee.

See Planned Parenthood Rally in Ithaca, NY on May 14, 2022 - YouTube for a recent public appearance.

Student groups and Events

I strive to provide important touchpoints for students outside of their courses.

Accepted and New Students: I serve as a facilitator in the book discussion held during orientation and as a guest speaker in the Freshmen Design Course, discussing my academic journey.  Similarly, I serve on faculty panels during Dyson Days for newly accepted students.

Current Students: Beyond welcoming students to Dyson, providing access to faculty as approachable mentors is essential to the student experience. I am currently serving as a Dyson Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence from 2019 – 2020.   Through this program, I served as a case judge for the E&J Gallo Winery Diversity and Inclusion case competition and also organized a bowling event with students and my family. I also engage with students in their extra-curricular activities, serving as the faculty advisor to two student groups, Scholars in Our Society and Africa (SOSA) and the Social Impact Group at Cornell (SEGC).  The focus of both of these groups is related to nonprofit and mission-based work, and thus my research experience allows me to be a more effective and engaged advisor to these groups. Finally, since my course is one of the first case-based courses that students take within Dyson, I served as the faculty advisor to the Georgetown McDonough Case Competition, where I selected team members, held practices, and traveled to DC with the team to participate in the case workshop events. 

Alumni and community outreach

TRIAD Event: Jointly with Professor Donna Haeger, I organized a symposium of accepted and current female students and alumnae, held during Leadership Week in February of 2020 to facilitate connections for women in business.  The purpose of the TRIAD event is to bring together future and current women students with alumnae of the Dyson School for a one-day summit to support and cultivate the growth of women in business, analytics, and leadership. Each TRIAD included one future and one current woman student, as well as one alumna. TRIAD Breakouts focused on: aspirations, challenges, and wins from each person’s perspective. From the first two years of the event, we received feedback from various stakeholders that indicate a positive impact of community-building including:

• “Thank you so much for an amazing experience! The TRIAD was so informative and was a great introduction to what Dyson will be like in the future. I look forward to being surrounded by successful, driven, and supportive women in business for the next four years.” (admitted student)

• “Thanks so much for putting it together and creating an amazing opportunity to build a network!” (current student)

• “I enjoyed learning from and building connections with other Dyson women today--thank you for putting together such an amazing event!” (alumna)

• “It was a great way to start my involvement in the Dyson community and I know will help make the transition next year much easier. I also love that the mentorship continues each year and I look forward to staying in touch with my TRIAD group. I also look forward to becoming a mentor for younger students in the future.” (admitted student)

Community Events: I strive to make my research accessible beyond the academic community. One way I do this is through lectures to various community groups. For example, in November 2019, I gave a lecture to the Campus Club on “Financial Exclusion in the U.S.” The Campus Club “was organized in 1900 ‘to promote the social and cultural interests of women, to extend a welcome to newcomers, and to promote a wider acquaintance and friendship.’ The Club’s roots are in Cornell and they have spread to include the greater Ithaca community.”

Alumni Guest Speakers: I engage with alumni in various ways. First, is through events I’ve organized, such as the TRIAD event above. Second, is by attending student-alumni events, such as the NYC Consulting Trek in January of 2020. And third, is by inviting Dyson alumni to speak to my class. These guest lectures provide my students with useful first-hand examples of how Strategy is implemented, as well as providing an impactful way for alumni to engage with Dyson.