Dr. Susan R. Madsen

Susan R. Madsen will be speaking on women in leadership at the March 17th luncheon. She is an associate professor of management at Utah Valley University and an independent leadership and change consultant.

Susan has been heavily involved for many years in researching the lifetime development of prominent women leaders. She has personally interviewed a host of women university presidents, governors, and international leaders.

Her first book titled “On Becoming a Woman Leader: Learning from the Experiences of University Presidents” was released in 2008, and her second book titled “Developing Leadership: Learning from the Experiences of Women Governors” was published in 2009.

She is now doing related leadership research and consulting in the United Arab Emirates and China. She is also currently working with the Utah System of Higher Education to conduct research related to the lower percentage of female college students in Utah compared with the nation.

Susan has published over 50 articles in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and speaks and presents often in local, national, and international academic and non-academic settings. In 2007 she received a prestigious research award from the Academy of Human Resource Development and has also received numerous awards and honors for her teaching and scholarship at her institution and beyond.

Susan serves as an editorial board member and reviewer for many academic journals. Susan’s research and consulting work have focused on leadership development, change, ethics, strategic faculty development, and work-life integration. Susan received her doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota in Work, Community, and Family Education with a specialization in human resource development. She has other degrees in exercise science/wellness and speech communication education and started her career many years ago as a middle school speech and debate teacher.

She currently lives in Highland Utah with her husband and children and enjoys racquetball, soccer, snowshoeing, golf, hiking, and community involvement.