Kadian M. Callahan

Biography

Dr. Kadian M. Callahan is Associate Dean for Student Success and Community Engagement and Professor of Mathematics Education in the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) at Kennesaw State University (KSU).  She collaborates with student leaders, faculty, staff, and administrators to ensure that CSM structures, policies, and practices align with the goal of creating a welcoming learning environment that fosters student success.  

Dr. Callahan also works with faculty and administrators across higher educational institutions to advance continuous improvement in 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 analyzing STEM institutional change efforts to transform teaching, learning, and the student experience.  She has led mathematics departmental change efforts and serves as a change partner for institutions seeking to improve introductory mathematics.

At the national level, Dr. Callahan is co-leader for the Accelerating Systemic Change Network (ASCN), mentors emerging leaders for the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) Project Kaleidoscope's STEM Leadership Institute, and serves on the Project EMBER leadership team for Transforming Post-Secondary Education in Mathematics (TPSE).

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences/Minor in Computer Information Systems from Florida A&M University - Tallahassee.  Her Master’s degree is in Secondary Mathematics Education from Indiana University - Bloomington, and her Ph.D. is in Mathematics Education: Higher Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland - College Park.

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.  I 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 and impact 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 aligns with my values.