Leading with Purpose: Spotlight on Dr. Kenna Vowell in Applied Leadership and Organizational Innovation

Dr. Kenna Vowell brings a dynamic blend of educational experience, leadership expertise, and passion for student success to her role at CPCS. With a background that bridges K-12 education, instructional design, and organizational leadership, she is dedicated to preparing students to lead confidently in today's rapidly evolving workplace.

Background & Expertise

Dr. Vowell currently rotates teaching all courses within the Applied Leadership Certificate program and also teaches several courses in the Master of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership. Her primary areas of expertise include organizational leadership, organizational culture, and online pedagogy, especially the design of high-quality online learning experiences for nontraditional students.

Her path into this field began in the elementary classroom, where she developed a deep grounding in pedagogy and evidence-based instruction. As she transitioned into instructional design, she became increasingly fascinated by how organizational systems, culture, and leadership influence performance and innovation. These experiences, combined with her doctoral studies, ultimately guided her toward a focus on leadership and organizational dynamics, particularly within online and adult-learning environments.

Kenna also brings meaningful applied experience to her teaching. With several years as an elementary educator, leadership roles in community and professional organizations, and management of multiple large-scale projects, she integrates real-world leadership challenges, such as stakeholder engagement and organizational change, directly into the classroom.

Thought Leadership & Relevance

According to Dr. Vowell, one of the most significant shifts in the field today is the growing importance of virtual team leadership. As organizations continue to operate in hybrid and remote formats, leaders must be prepared for faster communication, accountability, and culture across distributed teams, often without ever meeting face-to-face. Rapid technological change, global collaboration, and heightened expectations for inclusive leadership also shape the challenges students will navigate.

Her teaching is intentionally designed to help students thrive in these environments. Courses emphasize adaptable leadership strategies and practical application across industries. Rather than assigning busywork, she focuses on evidence-based practice, reflection, decision-making, and continuous improvement—skills essential for effective leadership in remote, hybrid, and traditional settings.

For anyone considering a leadership-focused career, Kenna offers simple but essential advice: never stop learning. Success in this field requires strong communication, an understanding of organizational behavior, and the agility to adapt to shifting environments. Continuous education and openness to new tools and ideas are key.

CPCS & Student Impact

Her favorite part of teaching at CPCS is the opportunity to work with highly motivated adult and nontraditional learners. Their diverse professional backgrounds bring rich perspectives that elevate discussions and ground learning in real-world application.

To support this, her courses rely heavily on hands-on, applied-based analysis, leadership reflections, and workplace-centered projects. These methods help them connect theory to practice and build skills they can immediately use in their careers.

Many of her students have gone on to advance professionally, earning promotions, transitioning into leadership roles, or implementing meaningful organizational improvements based on concepts learned in class. She is especially proud when former students return to share how the coursework shaped their leadership journeys or helped them navigate complex workplace challenges.

Looking Ahead

Currently, Dr. Vowell is expanding her research on organizational culture and its impact on online teaching and learning in the post-pandemic landscape. She is also developing new leadership programs that blend real-world application with emerging instructional technologies, an area she is particularly excited about.

Looking to the next decade, she anticipates that organizational leadership will continue to intersect with digital transformation, flexible workforce structures, and data-informed decision-making. Leaders will need to cultivate resilient cultures, guide distributed teams, and navigate continuous change. As these demands evolve, leadership education will place even greater emphasis on adaptability, inclusivity, and strategic innovation.

With her commitment to practical application, learner-centered design, and forward-thinking leadership education, Dr. Kenna Vowell continues to make a lasting impact on CPCS students and the broader field of organizational leadership.

Dr. Kenna Vowell serves as Faculty and Program Coordinator for the Applied Leadership Graduate Certificate and Master of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership programs. To learn more about Dr. Vowell or CPCS programs, visit cpcs.msstate.edu or contact her at kenna.vowell@msstate.edu.