2023-24 Frederick A. White Distinguished Professor of Professional Service

Mindy McNutt, associate professor of leadership students in education and organizations

Mindy S. McNutt, Ph.D., associate professor of leadership studies in education and organizations at Wright State University, received the 2023-24 Frederick A. White Distinguished Professor of Professional Service Award.

“Service” is the keyword. McNutt has been actively engaged in numerous service activities at Wright State University and in the community over the years.

“It is rare for Mindy to say no to an opportunity to support students, faculty, university committees and other volunteer activities,” said Sheri Stover, Ph.D., professor of leadership studies in education and organizations in the College of Health, Education and Human Services.

McNutt has led the Master of Science in Leadership Development program, chaired multiple doctoral dissertations and participated in all aspects of graduate admissions.

“Dr. McNutt is not only an effective servant leader, but she is also a good departmental citizen,” said Jim Denniston, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health, Education and Human Services.

When the director of the Master of Science in Leadership Development program took a sabbatical, McNutt stepped forward to serve as the program director. She then recruited the largest class of students in the program’s history.

McNutt has also made extensive contributions to the academic mission of Wright State and the college. She has chaired departmental, college curriculum and graduate studies committees and led departmental assessment committees for many graduate and undergraduate programs.

She actively works with students in the doctorate in organizational studies program and serves on the interview committee. She works with students from the beginning of the program, in which she teaches the first course, Leadership Theories, through supervising doctoral internships and chairing dissertation committees.

“She is very proud of the work that her dissertation students have done and are doing,” Stover said.

McNutt joined Wright State in 1991 as an adjunct assistant professor of educational leadership and human services. In 2000, she became an assistant professor of organizational leadership at the Lake Campus and was promoted to associate professor in 2005. In 2007, she left the university to accept an academic vice president position at a local community college. In 2010, a faculty position in leadership studies at Wright State’s Dayton Campus opened and she returned as an associate professor.

She serves on the Faculty Senate and its Executive Committee and has chaired several departmental, college and university committees.

Her service extends beyond Wright State. McNutt is a peer reviewer for multiple journals and has served on numerous committees for her professional organization. She also served as a faculty member of the Junior Leadership Dayton Program and on the Miami Valley School board of trustees and currently is a member of the Community Association of The Ridge board.

McNutt has been a Raider since before joining the faculty. From Wright State, she earned a bachelor’s degree in communication, a master’s degree in personnel counseling with a mental health concentration and an Ed.S. in educational administration, educational leadership. She earned her Ph.D. in educational administration and supervision, higher education administration, from Bowling Green State University.