Kadian M. Callahan

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Kadian M. Callahan is Assistant Dean for Faculty and Student Success in the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) and Professor of Mathematics Education at Kennesaw State University (KSU).  She earned a B.S. in Mathematical Sciences/Minor in Computer Information Systems from Florida A&M University - Tallahassee in 1998.  Her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are in Mathematics Education, respectively, from Indiana University - Bloomington (2002) and the University of Maryland - College Park (2006). Kadian is involved in several student success initiatives in the CSM including

  • oversight of the CSM Advising Center;
  • facilitating ongoing college-wide curriculum and program improvement;
  • delivering professional development to support faculty as they work to improve teaching and learning in science and mathematics courses;
  • running a summer bridge program for incoming freshmen; and
  • working with student leaders, faculty, staff, and administrators to ensure that our structures, policies, and practices align with our goal of creating an inclusive learning environment that fosters success for the diversity of students whom we serve.

Kadian collaborates with faculty and administrators across KSU units and across higher educational institutions to promote continuous improvement of undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.  Her research examines strategies for improving teaching and learning in science and mathematics courses and programs and STEM institutional change efforts to transform teaching, learning, and the student experience.  Kadian is involved with several national efforts seeking to improve undergraduate STEM education, including the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ (APLU’s) “Envisioning and Enacting an Inclusive and Diverse STEM Professoriate” conference series and Student Engagement in Mathematics through an Institutional Network for Active Learning (SEMINAL), the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) Project Kaleidoscope, and the Accelerating Systemic Change Network (ASCN).  

 


Leadership Philosophy

As a leader, you invest so much of yourself and your life that the work needs to be worthwhile.  What I have learned about leadership is that the responsibilities do not diminish.  Instead, they continue to become more and more complex.  When they do, sometimes you need to reorganize or retool your skills to meet new challenges.  The process is more fulfilling when it aligns with your values.  Because of this, I believe in leading with my values.  Think of leadership as a journey and personal values as a compass to guide the way along that journey.  By leading with my values, I am able to keep the work in perspective relative to my personal and professional goals and the legacy I wish to leave behind.  In this way, I can focus on the responsibilities of a leadership position and less on the title itself.  When things get stressful, I am able to easily remind myself of why am doing this work and why it matters.  And, when a new opportunity presents itself, I can ground my decision to take on that opportunity based on the extent to which it fits with my values.

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