Leah Sheppard stepped into the role of Carson College associate dean for strategic initiatives and college culture this academic year, and she’s ready to make her vision of a revamped CCB a reality.
“I have a vision of the Carson College being a hub of activity,” Sheppard said. “I want to walk through the doors of Todd Hall and feel the energy bouncing off the walls because there is so much going on.”
Sheppard is an associate professor of management. When she isn’t mapping out next steps for the CCB, she is studying the effect of gender on individuals’ workplace experiences and career outcomes.
Sheppard told The Evergreen she will be constantly searching for ways to strengthen the CCB in her new role.
“We can always improve, and I think a continuous improvement mindset is needed to best serve our students, employees and the state of Washington,” Sheppard said.
After receiving her PhD from the University of British Columbia in 2014, Leah Sheppard landed her first teaching position as an assistant professor at WSU, where she has been working as an educator and researcher for 12 years.
“I love that the Coug spirit is so compelling and contagious. I never felt a great deal of school spirit at either of the post-secondary institutions I attended. But I just can’t help but feel a great deal of love for and commitment to this place. I think that’s a big part of what makes WSU and the CCB so special,” Sheppard said.
When approached with the opportunity to take part in a council that was tasked with investigating the culture of the Carson College and providing recommendations on how it can be made more inclusive and equitable in 2023, Sheppard didn’t hesitate.
“Through that role, I was able to learn a lot about the operations of the college and take the lead on a variety of initiatives,” Sheppard said. “That work then got rolled into my current position, which has been expanded to include our strategic planning in the college.”
Sheppard plans to continue regular meetings with the CCB leadership team, constantly deciding on curriculum adaptations and changing teaching methods to ensure the best possible success for students.
Sheppard says one of the most important aspects of the job to her is setting CCB Cougs up for career success.
“We want to better prepare our students for their futures, forging stronger connections to industry, streamlining systems to provide the best service to our students and creating an environment in which everyone feels valued and a sense of purpose,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard has been leading efforts to develop a revised purpose statement for the CCB. She says this, in turn, will inspire the formulation of new strategic pillars, which will be developed this spring and summer.
“The point of all of this work is to be able to clearly articulate who we are as a college, why we do what we do, and why it’s important,” Sheppard said. “This will help us differentiate ourselves from other business schools in the region, and guide our decisions about where to put our time and energy to create the most value for our students and to produce evidence-based solutions that businesses need.”
As planning continues, Sheppard hopes the evolving culture of the college will translate into stronger opportunities and lasting success for students.
