Emily Irungu

Emily Njoki Irungu is a Ph.D. Student and a Doctoral assistant at James Madison University in the School of Strategic Leadership Studies. Her research interests incorporate leadership, philanthropy, donor retention, and non-profit organizations. She is an MBA graduate with a concentration in Finance from United States International University (USIU)Africa, a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Nairobi University in Kenya and holds a certified public accounting qualification in part I and II. She previously worked as a Finance Assistant at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid Spain.

Current Position: 

Doctoral Assistant, School of Strategic Leadership Studies

Previous Degrees:

M.B.A., United States International University of Africa

Bachelor of Commerce, University of Nairobi

Research Interests:

• Leadership
• Philanthropy
• Donor retention
• Non-profit organizations
• Nonprofit finance

Kennedy Musyoka

Before joining SSLS, Kennedy Muema Musyoka was a Human Resource Assistant at the Occupational Safety and Health Office (OSHO) at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. Prior to joining Aga Khan University Hospital, he was a Doctoral Candidate and a teaching assistant at the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A). He has four years’ experience as a procurement officer. His research interests include; Strategy, Leadership, Innovations, Social Enterprises and Non-Governmental Organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Management from the United States International University (USIU) - Africa and a Bachelor of Economics degree from Kenyatta University in Kenya.  He is a recent beneficiary of a scholarship from the Global School in Empirical Research Methods (GSERM) training offered by the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. His teaching subjects include Supply Chain Management, Strategic Management, Leadership and Entrepreneurship. 

Recent Publications: 

Maingi, C. W., Musyoka, K. M., Muna, F. M., & Kioko, P. S. (2020). Social Entrepreneurship in the Emerging Economies of Africa. In Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility (pp. 143-160). Cham: Springer.

Musyoka, K. M., Lewa, S. K., Maingi, C. W., & Mutuku, S. M. (2020). Being Mindful of Change. In The Routledge Companion to Inclusive Leadership (1st ed., pp. 63- 77). New York: Routledge.

Current Position:

Doctoral Assistant & Instructor, College of Business

Previous Degrees:

Master’s in Strategic Management, United States International University (USIU) - Africa

Bachelor of Economics, Kenyatta University, Kenya

Research Interests:

• Strategy

• Leadership

• Innovations

• Social Enterprises

• Non-Governmental Organizations

Rebeca Barge

Rebeca Barge joined JMU in October 2019 as the Associate Director for The Center for Multicultural Student Services. She works with identity-based student organizations on campus and oversees multicultural programming including the Diversity Education Empowerment Program (D.E.E.P. Impact). Before working at JMU, Rebeca worked in education non-profits for ten years. Rebeca loves hosting with her husband, spending time with her two young children, listening to reguetón, and being an avid athlete.

Current Position: 

Associate Director, The Center for Multicultural Student Services, James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

• Master of Social Work, The Catholic University of America
• Bachelor of Social Work, Eastern Mennonite University

Research Interests:

• Social justice and racial equity work in identifying the areas of deficiency that exist at the intersection of identity and leadership development.
• Building upon equitable practices that transform leadership and interactions with others.

Alyssa Bosley

Alyssa T. Bosley is a full-time Lecturer and Social Media Coordinator in the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management at James Madison University. Alyssa had served as the Director of Athletics Marketing (2006-2011) and Assistant Director of Athletics Marketing (2004-2006) at JMU. Her previous experience also includes work in the front office of the Norwich Navigators Baseball Club as the Marketing & Media Relations Manager and Media Relations & Merchandise Assistant (2003-2004). Alyssa holds a B.A. in Journalism and Sports Communications from the University of Connecticut and an M.S. in Athletic Administration from JMU.

As a lecturer, she has developed strategic partnerships with private, professional, and collegiate sports organizations such as the NCAA, Washington Football Team, NASCAR, Monumental Sport & Entertainment, and Octagon.

Alyssa has been the recipient of a number of awards from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), was a member of the University of Connecticut’s Crew team, and has served on the JMU Athletics Gender Equity Committee, as an Alumni Mentor for UConn’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Faculty Advisor for Phi Epsilon Kappa, Phi Kappa Psi, and Women in Sport and Recreation Management, an Ambassador for the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, and President of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Sports Commission.

In her free time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and two children.

Position: 

Lecturer and Social Media Coordinator, Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management, James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

• Master of Science, Athletic Administration, James Madison University
• Bachelor of Arts, Journalism and Sports Communications, University of Connecticut 

Research Interests:

• Impact of experiential classroom activities
• Sports marketing
• Advancement of women in sports

William Brown is a two-time graduate of JMU's College of Business. Wanting to stay connected to his alma mater, he has spent 15 years as a consultant for offices in the University's Student Affairs division.

In his current role, he helps departments improve their business processes using technology and advises on ways to better connect to students through marketing.

Will advises the university's fencing club, and frequently teaches youth fencing classes through JMU's Professional & Continuing Education College for Kids program. In his spare time, he plays games of all types; enjoys trivia, puzzles, and escape rooms; and loves spending time with his wife and cat.

Will is excited to return to the College of Business for a third time as a part of the SSLS Ph.D. program.

Current Position:

Senior IT Consultant, Student Affairs, James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

• MBA, Information Security, James Madison University
• BBA, Computer Information Systems, James Madison University

Research Interests:

• Ethical decision-making
• Leadership and innovation in higher education
• Influence of gaming on leadership development

"My vision is to emulate a retired officer and mentor, the late Mr. Edgar Puryear, who spent 35 years of his life studying the essence of leadership. All respected him for his scholarly contributions and his understanding for high moral character. But what made him beloved by so many was his commitment and willingness to invest in other people and his ability to set conditions for positive change. He once told me while I was a student at the University of Virginia that my West Point assignment was the most important position in the U.S. Army and perhaps the most important job that I would ever have as an officer. He believed that character was the single most distinctive value in a leader."

Current Position:

Professor of Military Science, Army ROTC, James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

• M.S. in Business, Supply Chain Management and Logistics, University of Kansas
• M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Virginia
• B.A., Logistics and Supply Chain Management, East Tennessee State University

Research Interests:

• How organizations who value leaders of character have a unique and vital competitive advantage over those who don’t
• The power that trust has on building a cohesive team that thrives during organizational change in a complex and diverse global environment

Jordan grew up in Culpeper, Virginia. During his free time, he enjoys playing sports, hiking, biking, and playing board games.

Current Position:

Academic Athletic Training Doctoral Assistant, James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

• Master of Arts, Health Promotion, Concord University
• Bachelor's of Science, Athletic Training, James Madison University

Research Interests:

• Higher education and the impact leadership training has on Athletic Trainers in different settings

Born and raised in Meru, Kenya, Diana Kamwibua has always been fond of people and community. After completing her undergraduate degree in Finance, she spent six years in banking and finance, moved to various positions in teaching at a university, volunteered for a local NGO start-up, and most recently moved to public policy in an audit role for the county government executive committee.
These experiences ignited Diana’s interests in sustainable development, smart cities, global partnerships, urbanization, and the role of leadership's impact on culture and economic growth. 

Diana is very excited to begin the SSLS Ph.D. program in the Fall of 2021 and eager to apply what she will learn from the SSLS program to her research and approach to smart cities and sustainable development goals among others.

During her free time, Diana enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures and food.

Current Position:

Management Analyst – Executive Audit Committee Member, Meru County Government
Partnership Development Account Manager, Inua Mama Mjane

Previous Degrees:

• MBA, Strategic Management, United States International University-Africa
• Bachelor of Commerce, Finance, University of Nairobi

Research Interests:

• Smart cities for sustainable development goals and urban development
• Inclusive partnerships for global cooperation
• Transparent audit of delivery results, timeline, and impact on target audience

Current Position:

Advisor to the Vice President for Student Affairs, Coordinator for Leader Development and Experiences, James Madison University

Previous Degrees:

Bachelor's of Science, Health Sciences, James Madison University

Master's of Education, Counseling Psychology: College Student Personnel Administration, James Madison University

Research Interests:

• Integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into leadership practices
• Power and privilege in supervisory relationships
• Self-efficacy in BIPOC and queer leaders

Joshua Orndorff is an ordained United Methodist elder and serves as the Chaplain of Randolph-Macon Academy where he leads chapel services, teaches religion courses, leads and guides a Spiritual Life team, and coaches soccer and basketball. In addition, Josh works as a Spiritual Leadership Coach through Spiritual Leadership, Inc. (SLI).

Josh grew up in the Shenandoah Valley in Front Royal, Virginia. He attended Randolph-Macon College as an A. Purnell Bailey pre-ministerial Scholar where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Sociology. Thereafter, he attended Duke University and graduated with a Master of Divinity.

Josh feels particularly called to support young people in their leadership development. He has been trained through Growing Leaders, Inc. as a Next Generation Facilitator to teach character and leadership to the next generation. Josh looks forward to being a part of the SSLS community at JMU to continue to develop as a leader and to learn how to best equip others for leadership.

Josh is blessed to be married to his high school sweetheart, Michelle, and they have three young sons: Julian, Orion, and Titus.

Current Position:

Chaplain, Randolph-Macon Academy
Spiritual Leadership Coach, Spiritual Leadership, Inc. (SLI)

Previous Degrees:

Master of Divinity, Duke University

Bachelor of Arts, Religious Studies & Sociology, Randolph-Macon College

Research Interests:

• Pedagogies that foster transformational leadership
• Youth leadership development
• Adaptive and generative leadership