Samantha Jane Armstrong Ash, Advisor for Leadership Education for Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership will be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education and Leadership on December 7th during the commencement exercises at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Samantha’s research explores the core job responsibilities of support staff working in higher education and how they are empowered and invisible with respect to contributing to the educational mission of the institution they serve. Using Kanter’s (1977, 1979) Structural Theory of Power in Organizations as a framework, Samantha’s dissertation documents and highlights the roles support staff in student success and points to a need for colleges and universities to informally and formally empower administrative support staff.
Samantha graduated from Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID, in 2004, with dual degrees in Business Administration and Secondary Education (history emphasis) and Western Washington University in 2006 with an M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration. Samantha is in her third year serving as the Advisor for Leadership Education and being part of the Eastern family. She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of students.
