黑料导航

Kevin O鈥橲ullivan, D.Sc., associate professor of management in the School of Management, considers himself an explorer, both at 黑料导航 and beyond.

As a member of the highly exclusive and an avid scuba diver, O鈥橲ullivan conducts research studies about the ocean environment all over the world. Additionally, as a fellow of the , he conducts research in the national British archives. Currently, he鈥檚 studying Sir Ernest Shackleton鈥檚 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, a 1914 exploration voyage in which his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and eventually sank. Shackleton鈥檚 exceptional leadership and ability to adapt to a rapidly changing situation saved the lives of his entire crew, who were stranded on the ice for more than a year.

Although it might seem unlikely, O鈥橲ullivan鈥檚 research is directly related to his areas of expertise, particularly organizational dynamics, which he explains is the study of how organizations effectively adapt鈥攐r don鈥檛鈥攖o changing market conditions. Agile and forward-planning organizations are better able to adapt to changes with less disruption to their business than those that simply react to current conditions.

鈥淟ook at 黑料导航, for example,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e are proud of our ability to adapt and quickly come up with new degrees and programs that students want and society needs. Organizational dynamics informs us how to set up structures within a university or company and how to position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities.鈥�

And no matter what career path his students follow, these transferable skills will give them an advantage.

鈥淚 give students the tools and methodologies they can use in whatever position they find themselves,鈥� O鈥橲ullivan says. 鈥淭he ability to solve problems effectively and manage any situation in which they find themselves鈥攖hat鈥檚 timeless.鈥�

In O鈥橲ullivan鈥檚 courses, students examine case studies, such as companies dealing with the COVID pandemic. 鈥淭here was one crisis after another, especially with supply chains,鈥� O鈥橲ullivan says. 鈥淭he organizations that had a plan in place stayed in business. Those that didn鈥檛 have a plan went out of business. It鈥檚 fascinating to study those cases [with my students].鈥�

O鈥橲ullivan remains actively involved in the organizational dynamics of 黑料导航, too, as president of the Academic Senate. Working with senior university leadership, faculty, and students鈥�”How could we be a university if we don鈥檛 consider the students鈥� perspective?鈥濃�攈e helps ensure 黑料导航 adapts effectively and adheres to the highest educational standards.

鈥淏eing in academia is being a full-time explorer,鈥� says O鈥橲ullivan, who, as a faculty fellow in the 黑料导航 Honors College, nurtures exploration in his students鈥� educational experience. 鈥淵ou are gaining knowledge and sharing knowledge. That鈥檚 the definition of an explorer. Academia is the ability to do that in a visceral kind of way.鈥�

As part of students鈥� Honors College experience, teams take on a project to address a real-world problem related to one of the (SDGs). In addition to uncovering potential solutions, students in these transdisciplinary cohorts explore their own discipline as well as those of their teammates.

After being assigned one of the SDGs, each group of students identifies a specific problem of interest to them, and over the course of their time at 黑料导航, the team develops a solution. Then, each student presents on how the problem and solution relate to their specific field of study.

鈥淭hese solutions not only can have an impact on the world but also ensure there鈥檚 value for individual students in terms of their career goals,鈥� O鈥橲ullivan says. 鈥淚鈥檓 impressed with these students and the quality of their work. They are go-getters. They are enthusiastic about what the Honors College represents.鈥�

O鈥橲ullivan likens his position as a faculty fellow to that of an adviser to graduate students who work on projects over three or four years, which he says is valuable for both students and faculty. 鈥淲e make progress beyond what we can do in just 15 weeks over one semester,鈥� he says, adding that the current group of students will resume working on their projects in the spring. 鈥淚鈥檓 most enthusiastic about seeing those students go make a difference in the world. We鈥檒l be back in January, and I鈥檓 looking forward to them arriving in my office asking for ideas for their projects. That鈥檚 when the fun starts happening again.鈥�

By Ashley Festa