Research spotlight

In the College of Business, research is fundamental to our mission because it enables us to provide a diverse and supportive environment that is essential for student success. By integrating research into our academic programs, we ensure that students are surrounded by high-quality faculty and staff, diverse peers, and corporate partners, all of whom contribute to a dynamic learning experience. Our commitment to applied academic programs and targeted initiatives ensures that our research not only influences business practice but also informs and enhances business education. As part of the university's goal to be a top 50 public research institution, we strive to create impactful research that enriches both undergraduate and graduate programs, while aligning with our land-grant mission and deep engagement with the business community.

A letter from Tom Kelemen, Fulbright Scholar to Australia

"I am an organizational behavior scholar who seeks to understand people at work. Specifically, I focus on how an employee’s non-work life influences their work performance and organizational leadership. My prior work has explored how various positive non-work factors, such as supportive partners and pets can benefit employees. I have likewise explored how challenging non-work factors such as divorce and disease can disrupt employees' work lives. My work has also examined various aspects of leadership including leader humility and follower-centric approaches to leadership. Ultimately, all of these different approaches to understanding employees at work are done with the ultimate aim of improving organizations and making employees' lives better.

"In the Spring of 2022, Nathan Eva, a Fulbright Scholar from Australia, presented his research at Kansas State. During his visit, he kindly met with me, and we had a wonderful chat about the Fulbright program and the value of engaging in this type of opportunity. Following his encouragement, I submitted my application later that year to be a Fulbright Scholar in Australia. I assumed that it was a long shot, but with the support of my department, I figured that it didn’t hurt to try. To my surprise and excitement, in the Spring of 2023, I found out that I was awarded a Fulbright to Deakin University in Melbourne Australia for 2024. My research project was in collaboration with Dr. Alex Newman, and we sought to better understand leader imposter syndrome, with a specific emphasis on understanding the experience of unrepresented groups in leadership such as women and minorities.

"During my four and a half months visit, I had the opportunity to visit and present research at universities across Australia. I gave presentations at six different universities from Tasmania to Adelaide. I was also able to participate in a leadership conference and interact with business and academic leaders from across all of Australia. These professional experiences broadened my network and allowed me to be an ambassador for Kansas State.

"In addition to the wonderful career opportunities, I was also able to bring my wife and four children with me to Australia. Having my family join me on my adventure was the most rewarding part of the experience. We visited nearly 20 different beaches from the famous Bondi Beach in Sydney to the picturesque Wineglass Bay in Tasmania. We likewise visited nearly every beach Melbourne had to offer. Along with beaches, we took advantage of the amazing wildlife, enjoying kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, and so much more.

"This experience has made me a more well-rounded and culturally competent professor. I had the opportunity to provide guest lectures in courses and learn about the Australian educational system. Even in a supportive environment like Kansas State, there is a benefit in getting an alternative perspective of how things are done in other settings. Thus, I am very grateful for the people at Deakin University and for the useful lessons and perspectives gained by visiting there.

"While we loved our time in Australia, Kansas remains home. However, I have developed several important relationships that will allow me the opportunity to continue collaborating and visiting Australia in the future. I have joined the Leadership Futures Hub at Deakin University as an affiliate member and will be engaging with their efforts for the next several years. I am also looking to bring back several of the lessons that I learned in Australia to my classroom teaching and my college."

The U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program provides nearly 470 awards annually for teaching, research, or a combination of both in over 125 countries. These opportunities are open to college and university faculty, administrators, professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars, and more. With evolving program models, Fulbright now offers flexible, multi-country grants to adapt to the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals. Learn more about the program here.