Molly R. Shepard, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Practice in Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Dr. Molly R. Shepard holds the position of Assistant Professor of Practice in Leadership and Organizational Behavior at the Zimpleman College of Business. Additionally, she serves as Co-Director of the Master of Science in Leadership program housed within the School of Education at Drake University. Before joining the academic realm at Drake, Dr. Shepard had a diverse career in the private sector, where she held various leadership roles, primarily in the field of supply chain management. Her expertise extends to all facets of operations management and strategic planning, including the use of continuous improvement techniques aimed at enhancing process efficiency and effectiveness. In addition to enhancing productivity, Dr. Shepard is equally interested in the cultural climate of the organization. A trained IDI administrator, her scholarly pursuits are driven by her interests in cultural competency development and the impact of inclusivity in the workplace and effective leadership. Her research in these domains has contributed to an enhanced understanding of leadership practices across diverse cultural contexts. She holds a B.A. in International Management and French from Central College, an MBA with an emphasis in International Business from Loyola University in Chicago, and a Ph.D. in Education Leadership from Drake University.