Great leadership extends beyond titles and positions. It is about serving others, creating positive influence, and helping people succeed. Southern Nazarene University’s new Organizational Leadership track within the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program was designed with this philosophy in mind.
Developed through a collaboration between Dr. Stephoni Case, Director of the Doctorate of Education in Administration and Leadership program, and Dr. Michael Houston, Director of the Master of Organizational Leadership program, the new track prepares doctoral students to lead effectively in education, business, nonprofit organizations, healthcare, government, and other professional settings.
The track offers a specialized focus on organizational leadership, preparing students to apply doctoral-level leadership principles across a variety of professional settings.
Grounded in servant leadership principles and designed for working professionals, the Organizational Leadership track equips students with the knowledge, research skills, and practical leadership tools needed to make a lasting impact in their organizations and communities.
Both Dr. Case and Dr. Houston believe leadership is about serving others rather than seeking authority or recognition. Their shared commitment to servant leadership helped shape the development of the Organizational Leadership track and influences how they mentor students, conduct research, and approach leadership education.
For Dr. Houston, leadership begins with caring for people.
“Leaders are at their best when they care for themselves and others,” he said. “It is easy to become hyper-focused on productivity, deadlines, and the hustle and miss what I believe is the most important part: caring for people.”
Dr. Houston has written and spoken extensively about servant leadership, emphasizing that leadership is rooted in caring for others and helping them thrive.
Dr. Case shares a similar perspective. Her passion for servant leadership is reflected in both her teaching and research. She believes leadership creates opportunities for others to learn, grow, and achieve goals they may not have thought possible.
Together, their leadership philosophies helped shape a track designed to prepare leaders who lead with purpose, humility, and a commitment to serving others. While their professional backgrounds differ, both educators share a common belief: leadership is most effective when it helps others grow.
Dr. Stephoni Case has spent her career helping students achieve goals they once thought were out of reach. She began her professional journey as a high school English teacher, where she quickly discovered that encouraging students and helping them accomplish their goals was her true calling.
After teaching in Southern Nazarene University (SNU)’s Communication Arts Department for 19 years, Dr. Case served as Director of the Center for School Business Management at Oklahoma State University before returning to SNU in 2014 to lead the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL) program. In 2019, she launched SNU’s Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership (DEAL) program and continues to serve as its director.
“Working with graduate students who have made a commitment to reach their goals is a great blessing,” Dr. Case said. “I am always grateful for the hope and the determination I observe in these students who are making a positive difference in their professional communities.”
That passion for student success continues to shape the DEAL program today. According to Dr. Case, one of the program’s greatest strengths is the support students receive throughout the research and writing process.
“The support of the research professors coupled with the embedded research writing is one of the most valuable elements of the program,” she explained.
This intentional approach has helped students successfully complete their doctoral journey through SNU’s distinctive “Dr. Done in 32 Months” model.
Building on the servant leadership principles that helped inspire the Organizational Leadership track, Dr. Case’s current research explores perceptions of servant leadership within an academic community. Her research reflects a broader commitment to helping students grow as scholars, leaders, and professionals.
“My own why is that, with God’s help, I want to help open doors of accomplishment for these doctoral students as they pursue their own academic growth and research.”
For prospective students considering a doctorate, Dr. Case offers a simple piece of encouragement:
“The best time to start your doctoral program was five years ago. If that didn’t happen, then the best time is NOW.”
Dr. Michael Houston, developer and director of SNU’s Master of Organizational Leadership program, helped shape the new Ed.D. Organizational Leadership track by bringing decades of leadership education and experience to its development.
A lifelong educator with more than 25 years of education experience, Dr. Houston has served in student life leadership roles at several universities before joining Southern Nazarene University. His research interests include leadership, distraction, and the intersection of leadership and technology.
Drawing on more than 25 years of leadership experience, Dr. Houston helped design the Organizational Leadership track to challenge conventional ideas about leadership and influence.
“I believe much of what we see as leadership misses the mark,” Dr. Houston explained. “The world needs better leaders, and the Organizational Leadership track is designed to help learners grow into the leader they were created to be.”
Rather than focusing solely on authority or position, Dr. Houston believes effective leadership is rooted in service.
“While many would argue that the leader is the person up front, or the one with the power, or the most visible in an organization, I contend that leadership is best when we care for others and put others first.”
The Organizational Leadership track was created for professionals who want to expand their leadership influence while maintaining a strong focus on organizational effectiveness, people development, and ethical leadership.
Unlike leadership programs designed for a single industry, the Organizational Leadership track prepares professionals to apply leadership principles across a wide range of organizational settings. Whether working in education, healthcare, nonprofit organizations, business, government, or ministry, students learn how to navigate complexity, build healthy organizational cultures, and lead people effectively through change.
The track also builds upon many of the strengths that have made SNU’s Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership (DEAL) program successful. Dr. Houston points to the cohort model and scholar-practitioner approach as key advantages.
“Doing doctoral work with a trusted cohort is invaluable because you have others who are on the same journey to learn from, commiserate with, and support,” he said. “The scholar-practitioner focus sets up graduates who will actively apply their learning to whatever industry they lead.”
Students will explore topics such as executive leadership, coaching, organizational systems, and leading through complexity. Dr. Houston is especially excited about courses such as Leading in Complex Environments and Executive Leadership and Coaching, which provide practical tools for emerging and experienced leaders alike.
Together, these courses help students develop a leadership approach that is both strategic and people-centered while preparing them to address real-world challenges within their organizations.
As organizations face increasing complexity and change, the need for leaders who can balance strategic thinking with people-centered leadership continues to grow.
Together, Dr. Case and Dr. Houston have helped create a track that challenges students to think differently about leadership. Grounded in servant leadership, informed by research, and focused on practical application, the Organizational Leadership track prepares professionals to lead with purpose while making a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.
Whether students hope to advance within education, lead nonprofit organizations, guide business teams, or influence organizational culture, the Organizational Leadership track provides a pathway for leadership growth rooted in service, scholarship, and impact.
As Dr. Houston puts it, “There is no better way to accomplish this than by using love to lead.”
For professionals who feel called to greater leadership and impact, the new Organizational Leadership track in SNU’s Doctor of Education program offers an opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and personally while preparing to influence organizations, communities, and individuals through purposeful leadership.