CV: Nancy Southern

Ed.D Organization and Leadership, 1997, University of San Francisco,
M.B.A. Executive Leadership, 1987, St. Mary's College of California,
B.A. Psychology, 1973, Sonoma State University

Currently my work is focused on creating cultures of collaboration in public, private, and non-profit organizations and local communities. I work with senior and mid-management teams to help build their capacity for engaging in meaningful conversations and appreciative, critical inquiry to address their challenges and create the organizational changes they desire. I am a research member of the Global Society of Organizational Learning and a steward with the Bay Area Society of Organizational Learning and an active member in the Organizational Development network. I am on the editorial boards of the Journal of Transformative Education and the Organizational Development Practitioner. My research interests intersect culture, collaboration, community and innovation using qualitiative methodologies including action research, hermeneutics, and other interpretative approaches and transformative approaches. 

Oct 08 Intentional Inquiry: Collaborative Learning to Enhance Organizational Performance. Society of Organizational Learning Academy, Seattle.

July 08 Co-Creating Living Systems that Thrive on Diversity, with Mary Lewis. 52nd Annual Meeting of the International Society of Systems Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Oct. 07 Co-Creating Living Systems that Thrive on Diversity, with Mary Lewis and Bernice Moore. Seventh International Conference on Transformative Learning, University of New Mexico.

2007 - Creating Collaborative Cultures. Beijing University, China

2007 - Co-Creating Living Systems that Thrive on Diversity. International Transformative Learning Conference, University of New Mexico

Mentoring for Transformative Learning, Sixth International Conference on Transformative Learning, Michigan State University Oct. 05

Creating Cultures of Collaboration that Thrive on Diversity, Center for Collaborative Organizations 16th International Conference, Sept. 05

"The Emerging Realities of Leadership", with Maureen O'Hara, Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco Marriott, March 4, 2003.

"Organizational Integrity and Communication Practices" with Marvin Brown, BAODN Best in the West Conference, May 9, 2003

"Organizational Integrity and Systems Thinking", with Maureen O'Hara, Marvin Brown, and Dennis Jaffe. World Futures Society conference, July 18-20, 2003

I am interested in research in the areas of cultural change, individual and organizational learning and transformation, collaboration, appreciative inquiry, global leadership, and the application of hermeneutics to the field of organizational development.

My research focus is primarily in the qualitative area, although I have worked as a thesis advisor for a number of quantitative studies. My dissertation research was an ethnographic, hermeneutic study of leadership relationships in the U.S.and China. I have a strong background in action research particularly using interviewing and conversational methods.

I engage collaboratively with students in a nurturing and challenging relationship that supports transformative learning. I work well with students who are interested in applying organizational learning as a manager or consultant. I encourage students to use critical inquiry in their learning process and to develop their own methods and models. I can also help students bring a focus to their dissertation topic ideas.

Research Expertise Rating Guide:

1. studied in a class or have read intensively on my own
2. special training in the form of a workshop or equivalent
3. taught a class in, or supervised research using this method (research practicum, on a dissertation or master's committee
4. used in research myself
5. published or presented at conferences my research using this method

Methods Traditionally Considered As Quantitative (But Need Not Be)

Methods That Could Use Quantitative Or Qualitative Methods

Methods Primarily Associated With Qualitative Research (But May Also Use Quantitative)

Types of Analysis