Faculty Profiles

Dr. Doris Adams

A seamless connection between work and learning

As an organization development (OD) consultant, Dr. Doris Adams is a perfect fit for the Champlain MBA faculty.

“I’d like students as change leaders to be able to communicate effectively vertically and horizontally in any organization to influence, negotiate and build relationships,” she says of her objectives for her students. “I see these men and women as avid learners who can reflect on their actions and obtain feedback in order to bring a different approach into the workplace.”

In her career, Adams focuses on designing and implementing leadership development programs, and facilitating organization transformation and strategic change initiatives. Her experience is perfectly suited to helping her students integrate what they’re learning with what they’re doing at work.

“Each course focuses one or more of five integrated perspectives for viewing organizational systems: human resources/organizational relationships, marketing, finance, results/measurement and innovation/learning. Through assignments, discussions, and workplace projects, students are asked to develop a systemic way of thinking about their workplaces and reflect this in their action,” Adams relates. “The program creates a seamless connection between work and learning. Also, students get ongoing feedback from faculty professionals and peers to enrich their perspectives and repertoire of approaches.”

Adams is outcome driven and notes that her students will develop the skills that will make them functional and inspirational in their workplaces.

“My students will have the opportunity to develop practical skills to become more effective managers and leaders. They’ll become competent in change-management so they can help in workplace transitions and in communication practices so they can influence more effective organizational relationships and produce better results. Most importantly, they’ll develop self-knowledge and reflective learning practices so they can create a culture of openness and inquiry.”

For Adams, the Champlain MBA is a complete package. “I think the integrative and experiential/ project-based curriculum makes this program perfect for today’s professionals who want a management credential and a program that fits their busy lives.”

Adams has 20 years’ experience both in consulting in organizational development, change management, performance consulting and facilitation, and in higher education as professor, department chair and program administrator. She is a consultant in Organizational and Human Resource Development.

Adams holds a BS in Nursing from the University of Vermont, a master’s in Community Health Nursing from Boston College, and a PhD in Human Resource Development from the University of Texas, Austin. In addition to being a member of the Champlain MBA faculty, she teaches in Champlain’s MSMIIT (Managing Innovation & Information Technology) graduate program.

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