School of Strategic Leadership Studies eNews: August 2026

Dr. Nara Yoon awarded Oxford Fellowship

Congratulations to Dr. Nara Yoon, assistant professor, on her appointment as a Visiting Researcher at the Gradel Institute of Charity, New College at the University of Oxford. During her fellowship, Yoon developed interdisciplinary research examining governance and leadership in charities and social enterprises, helping to advance scholarship and practice in the nonprofit sector. Building on this work, she will continue her research and collaboration through the next year of her fellowship, further strengthening the impact of her contributions to the field.

“This work creates opportunities for scholars to address three core challenges in charity governance research: developing reliable and replicable measures for key constructs, designing robust comparative research frameworks and strengthening the connection between research and practice to enhance both domains,” said Yoon. 

From virtual seminar to real-world impact

Former Brigadier General and third-year SSLS doctoral student David Brigham is translating leadership theory into practice through the Servant Fitness Project (SFP), a leadership development framework focused on reflective awareness, resilience and service-oriented growth.

Rooted in the belief that effective leadership begins with intentional human development, the SFP framework helps individuals strengthen leadership capacity across seven integrated domains. What began as a small virtual seminar has grown into a scalable leadership model implemented at institutions such as Bridgton Academy, as well as professional education initiatives in partnership with Saint Leo University and members of the law enforcement community.Designed to be low-cost, adaptable, and sustainable, the program continues to expand as it moves toward nonprofit status and broader regional implementation.

Brigham’s work reflects the SSLS scholar-practitioner model, demonstrating how research and real-world application can work together to develop stronger leaders and organizations.

Kristia Nano (pictured 4th from right, second row) attended the Antwerp Blended Intensive program for Leadership Development.

James Were (left) presented alongside Dr. Nara Yoon and Dr. Margaret Sloan (not pictured) at the ISTR Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

Pictured left to right: Zerrouk Besa, 2026 Youth Leadership Award recipient; Nick Swartz, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Professional & Continuing Education and Rae Vaughn, Director of Youth Programs, JMU's School of Professional & Continuing Education

James Were, Barnabas Suva (pictured above), and Zerrouk Bessa, alongside Dr. Nara Yoon, recently presented at the 2026 Academy of Management (AOM) Public and Nonprofit (PNP) Doctoral Consortium in Philadelphia.

As part of one of the world's leading gatherings of management and organizational scholars, the consortium provides doctoral students with the opportunity to engage with renowned researchers, share their work, and contribute to emerging conversations in the field. Their participation highlights the continued scholarly contributions of SSLS students and reflects the program's commitment to developing scholar-practitioners who advance research, leadership, and positive change across public, nonprofit, and organizational settings.

Barnabas Suva continues to advance his work on ethical reasoning and leadership in the nonprofit sector. Recently, he presented his research on an ethical reasoning training intervention for nonprofit boards and leaders to the SSLS Advisory Board, sparking meaningful conversations about ethical leadership and decision-making. In partnership with JMU Ethical Reasoning in Action, Suva has helped facilitate multiple cohorts of the Ethical Reasoning Training for Nonprofit Boards and Leaders, engaging nonprofit board members and executives in thoughtful dialogue and practical approaches to ethical decision-making. The continued growth and positive reception of the program underscore the impact of Suva's research and SSLS's commitment to developing ethical, effective leaders.

Mohammad M. Rahman, MA, MPA, recently partnered with JMU Talent Development as a Leadership Assessment Specialist, applying his expertise in assessment, evaluation and leadership development to enhance leadership programming across the university. As part of the project, Rahman designed a comprehensive leadership assessment system for Talent Development's CORE, ASCENT and Mid-level Management Institute (MMI) programs, helping translate leadership competencies into measurable learning outcomes and indicators of growth. His work provides a data-informed framework for evaluating rogram effectiveness, supporting continuous improvement and demonstrating the impact of leadership development on participants and the broader JMU community. This collaboration exemplifies the SSLS scholar-practitioner model, showcasing how doctoral students apply research and theory to address real-world organizational challenges and create meaningful institutional impact.