Fellow, Dalla Lana Journalism and Health Impact, University of Toronto Ayeshah Haque looks for creative ways to channel her passion for community health to make an impact. Through her work, she is committed to empowering people with health information by sharing compelling stories that can reach a wide audience. She has completed the Translational Research Program (TRP) at the University of Toronto, and the Midwifery Education Program (MEP) at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is currently a Dalla Lana Journalism and Health Impact fellow at the University of Toronto.
Associate Professor of Management and Human Resources, University of Wisconsin-Madison Alex is a Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior in the Management and Human Resources Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Business. He is a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alex is also a Faculty Affiliate of the African Studies Program at UW-Madison. He was a visiting scholar in the psychology department at Stanford University. Alex’s research examines public leaders’ role in addressing societal grand challenges – pressing social problems with ripple effects. His three most recent papers provide new insights into qualities associated with leadership effectiveness in addressing grand challenges and highlight the potential for diversity in leadership positions to achieve favorable outcomes. His paper on U.S. Governors’ female leadership advantage during the COVID-19 crisis received a Responsible Research Finalist Award from the Academy of Management in 2021. Alex’s 2023 paper on Ethics of Care Leadership demonstrates a Female Leadership Advantage in achieving effective outcomes in the context of the urban revitalization crisis. Most recent paper showed that the gender and race of police chiefs were associated with violence during the BLM protests, such that protests in cities with Black women police chiefs were associated with the lowest levels of violence compared to other groups. Alex received a Gaumnitz Distinguished Research Award (UW-Madison, WSB), a Mabel Chipman Excellence in Teaching Award (UW-Madison, WSB), and an Excellence in Teaching Award at UC-Irvine, GSM. He has served on the Editorial Boards of Journal of Applied Psychology (contributing editor), Academy of Management Journal, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, South African Journal of Human Resource Management, Organizational Dynamics, and as a member of the Advisory Council of Harvard Business Review. Alex has published in premier psychology and Management journals such as Psychological Bulletin, Journal of Applied Psychology, Academy of Management Journal, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Personnel Psychology, Journal of Management, Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of Organizational Behavior. This research generated close to 15,000 citations. Alex received his PhD (Organizational Behavior) and MA (Management) degrees from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a BSc in Economics from University of Belgrade (Serbia). He teaches in WSB Executive and Professional MBA programs, has conducted executive education seminars globally (e.g., Australia, Chile, China, Germany, Korea, Singapore, South African Republic), and has presented at over 100 professional conferences.
PhD student, Sociology, University of Alberta Andrea DeKeseredy is a PhD student in the department of sociology at the University of Alberta. She has an MA in sociology from the University of Alberta and a Master of Social Work from West Virginia University. Her research centers on organizational inequality with a focus on gender, work, and family.
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of South Africa Ayobami Adekola is a public health scholar. Through his research, teaching, and engaged scholarship in health literacy, health promotion, and gender studies, he addresses determinants of health, advances adolescents' sexual and reproductive health, and promotes health equity and disease prevention, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
Associate Professor of Anthropology, Purdue University Dr. Andrew Flachs researches food and agriculture systems, exploring genetically modified crops, heirloom seeds, and our own microbiomes. Born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, he graduated from Oberlin College with dual Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts degrees in 2010. He earned his PhD from Washington University in St. Louis in April 2016 and was a 2016-2017 Volkswagen Exchange Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Heidelberg University Karl Jaspers Centre for Advanced Transcultural Studies. He is currently an associate professor of anthropology at Purdue University. Through more than 15 years of research with farmers in North America, the Balkans, and South India investigates ecological knowledge and technological change in agricultural systems spanning Cleveland urban gardens and Indian GM cotton fields. Andrew's research has been supported by public and private institutions including the Department of Education, the National Geographic Society, the American Institute of Indian Studies, and the Social Science Research Council, while his writing on agricultural development has been featured in numerous peer-reviewed publications as well as public venues including Sapiens, Salon, and the National Geographic magazine. Andrew's work has been recognized by eight international awards, including most recently as a finalist for the Society for Economic Anthropology Kate Browne Creativity in Research Award and the International Convention of Asia Scholars’ Book Prize. Outside of academia, he is an avid cook, cyclist, and musician who has performed in New York City, St. Louis, Asheville, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Lead, Mental Health, Edith Cowan University Dr Amanda Cole is ECU’s Lead Mental Health, and project Lead on the implementation of The Living Room at ECU. Dr Cole, in her role as Lead Mental Health is responsible for leading whole-of-institution student mental health initiatives to promote and support a mentally healthy learning and work environment. Amanda is a registered teacher, and a registered nurse of twenty years, who has worked in a variety of clinical areas, with her specialty in the area of mental health. Amanda’s previous role was as the Director of Undergraduate Nursing Studies, and Bachelor Of Science (Nursing) Course Coordinator in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Dr Cole is the Chair of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Education and Accreditation Committee. Amanda’s other areas of interest and research are in teaching and learning innovation, student wellbeing and success, and families living with mental illness.
