Nancy Isaacson, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Center for Organizational Reform (COR)

Formal Education

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR:  Ph.D. in Education, 1981 (emphasis:  organization development and training/development)

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR:  M.S. in Education, 1978

University of Missouri-Columbia (MO):  B.S. in Education, 1970

Professional Experience

Higher Education, 1979-2003

            In higher education, served as a tenured Associate Professor, Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies, as an Assistant Professor in Educational Curriculum and Administration-both at Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA).  In these positions, taught graduate courses and chaired doctoral dissertations and masters' theses. Prior to that time, served as an adjunct professor and post-doctoral research assistant at various institutions, teaching courses in organizational theory and development; educational administration; and curriculum and instruction. 

            Graduate-level courses taught include: Leadership Theory; Organizational Theory; Organizational Change & Reform; Advanced Organizational Change & Reform (Process Consultation); Organizational Change & Resistance to Change; Organizational Change & Dysfunctional Organizations; Organizational Change & Organizational Culture; Organization Development; Trust Building & Repair in Organizations; Leadership & Sociology (Sociology of the Professions); Leadership & Diversity; Literature Review for the Dissertation; Proposal Seminar; Curriculum Development; The Principalship; Small School Administration; Instructional Practicum; Interpersonal Influence.

Public School Administration, Staff Development, and Teaching

            As an employee of several public school districts in three states, served at the elementary and middle school levels in teaching, administration, and training positions; doctoral research was conducted in senior high schools, thus allowing extensive experience across the K-12 spectrum.

Organizational Consultation, Program Evaluation, Group and Process Facilitation

           Since 1980, consultation to numerous public/governmental, educational, non-profit, religious, and business organizations in the following areas: change, leadership, conflict intervention, participatory decision making, organizational culture, organizational and professional socialization, organizational wellness, and healing from organizational injury. 

            In addition, over 20 years' planning, evaluation, facilitation, conflict intervention, and process consultation to numerous organizations across the spectrum of organizations, as well as individual coaching of leaders.

Keynotes, Major Presentations, and Workshops

                Within the last 20 years, numerous presentations and trainings on topics such as healing injured organizations, organizational justice, responding to the aftermath of crises, rebuilding organizational trust, leader self-care, healing unhealthy organizations, individual and organizational change, issues in higher education organizations, professional collaboration, process consultation, management of healthy systems, induction of beginning teachers, and new models of leadership.

Scholarship

Publications, Films, and Papers (Last 10 years)

Fein, A.H., Carlisle, C.S., & Isaacson, N.S. (2007).  School shootings and counselor leadership: Four lessons from the field. Submitted for publication.

Isaacson, N. (2006). Lamentation for a good-enough Samaritan.  Paper presented at the Second International Symposium on Organizational Health, Center for Organizational Reform, Spokane (WA)                     

Fein, A. & Isaacson, N. (2005). Put on a happy face: The emotion work of leaders in crisis situations. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Leadership Association, Amsterdam

Green, C. & Isaacson, N. (2005). Current organizational theory and COR: Ideas on organizational size, structure, culture, and leadership.  Internal paper, Center for Organizational Reform, Spokane (WA)

Isaacson, N. (2005). Emotion work in unhealthy organizations.  Paper presented at the First International Symposium on Organizational Health, Center for Organizational Reform, Spokane (WA)

Chase, N. & Isaacson, N. (2004). Between a rock and a hard place:  The clash of IT occupational culture and the press for organizational efficiency.  Paper presented at the Fourth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations, University of Greenwich (UK).

Isaacson, N., Brannan, S., Cullen, E., Foster-Dow, S., & Isaacson, A.R. (2003).  Leadership Styles of Today's Contemporary Women-and We Mean It!  Spokane, WA:  Comcast and the Center for Organizational Reform

Isaacson, N. (2003)  The human costs of reform, organizational caring, and the Douglas Fir.  Working Paper #2, Center for Organizational Reform, online collection, [www.corhome.org/working papers]

Isaacson, N.  (2001).  The package deal:  Stewardship of the mission, organizational wellness, and principled organizational dissent.  The 2001 Tucker Lecture on Mission, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

Isaacson, N. (1999, October).  The organizational socialization of classroom teachers, workplace sense of community, and state reform in schools.  International Conference on the Social and Moral Fabric of School Life, Seattle Pacific University, Edmonds, WA

Isaacson, N. & Ford, P.J., SJ.  (1998, Winter).  Leadership, accountability, and wellness in organizations.  Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 12 (3), 31-38

Isaacson, N.  (1997, September).  The side effects of organizational reform.  Annual fall conference of the Washington State University League of Schools, Spokane, WA

Beebe, J. & Isaacson, N.  (1997, March).  Qualitative dissertations and subsequent success in leadership roles.  Annual conference of the Society for Applied Anthropology, Seattle, WA

Isaacson, N. (1997, March).  Leadership in times of reform.  Annual spring conference of the Washington State University League of Schools, Spokane, WA

Community Service

Board of Directors, Center for Organizational Reform (COR), Spokane, WA, 2002-2003

Trustee, Hospice of Spokane (WA), 2001-2006

Volunteer, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Spokane (WA), 1998-ongoing

Parent volunteer, Central Valley High School, 1995-1996

Libby/Chase Middle School-Gonzaga University Partnership, 1993-1995

Nine Mile Falls School District-Gonzaga University Partnership, 1993-1995

Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, School of Education, Gonzaga, 1994-1995           

Volunteer, YMCA International Refugee Services, Houston, TX, 1992

Advisory Board Member, Dispute Resolution Center of Spokane, WA, 1989-1990

Professional Development Advisory Board, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Portland, OR, 1986-1988

Volunteer Crisis Counselor, victims of domestic violence, Womenspace, Eugene, OR, 1981

Awards/Distinctions

Tucker Lecture, Gonzaga University, 2001

Dissertation chair of national Distinguished Dissertation of the Year, Association of Teacher Educators, presented to Dr. Leeann Reeves-Moore, 2000

Teacher of the Year, Gonzaga University, 1997-98

Individual Excellence in Instruction Award, Washington Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1995

Inaugural Honorary Collins Address:  Annual conference of the New York State Association of Teacher Educators, Syracuse, NY, 1995