Raj Soin College of Business Associate Dean Rachel Sturm named rising education star by Dayton Business Journal

Rachel Sturm, associate dean and professor of management in Wright State’s Raj Soin College of Business, has built a distinguished career as a scholar, teacher and leader.

Rachel Sturm, Ph.D., associate dean of Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business, was named to the 2026 Rising Stars of Education class by the Dayton Business Journal.

The annual recognition honors emerging leaders who are shaping the future of education in the Dayton region through innovative approaches and a strong commitment to excellence.

Sturm serves as associate dean and professor of management in the Raj Soin College of Business. Since joining Wright State in 2014, she has built a distinguished career as a scholar, teacher and leader. Before becoming associate dean, she chaired the college’s former Department of Management and International Business.

“This recognition reflects my commitment to creating meaningful leadership opportunities that connect students to the broader community beyond the classroom,” Sturm said. “Our students are always becoming while busy learning, knowing and doing, and I believe higher education plays an important role in helping students navigate not only who they are, but who they want to be, as they undergo their academic journeys.”

Sturm’s work on two initiatives demonstrates that commitment.

Supported by a Capacity-Building Grant from the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, Sturm collaborates with faculty and staff to create opportunities for students to develop character strengths alongside academic and professional skills. This work advances the college’s strategic priority of supporting students’ personal and professional growth.

“Employers consistently tell us they are seeking graduates who possess both technical expertise and characteristics such as accountability, curiosity, resilience — all of which are character-based,” she said.

In 2024, Sturm launched the Ascend Leadership Academy, which helps high-achieving undergraduate students strengthen their leadership potential, enhance their career success and develop the capacity to make a positive impact in the Dayton region and beyond. The academy helps students gain a deeper understanding of their values and motivations while developing character, emotional intelligence and networking skills.

The program reflects Sturm’s commitment to preparing students to lead with purpose.

“The inspiration to launch the Ascend Leadership Academy came from recognizing that many students are searching for deeper purpose, connection and confidence as they prepare for their future,” she said. “The students in Ascend are incredible, and it has been a true blessing to be a small part of their leadership journey.”

An internationally recognized scholar, Sturm has earned more than 5,000 citations for her research on leadership, character development, interpersonal power dynamics, workplace gender issues and self-other agreement. Her work has been published in leading practitioner and academic journals, including Harvard Business Review, The Leadership Quarterly, Journal of Management Studies and the Academy of Management Learning and Education.

Sturm received the 2020 Journal of Management Scholarly Impact Award and Wright State’s Presidential Award for Early Career Achievement in 2016. She is also a four-time recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award in management and international business and a two-time recipient of the MBA Excellence in Teaching Award from the Raj Soin College of Business.

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Sturm is a certified professional coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Coaching provides Sturm with a pathway to partner with others, particularly women in mid-life career transitions, to help them maximize their potential. She also brings coaching into programs and curriculum at Wright State to better serve students.

“I am grateful that my current academic leadership role affords me with a unique platform through broader cultural initiatives, strategic direction and external partnerships to create more holistic opportunities for student growth and career readiness,” she said.

Sturm earned her Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Houston and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Binghamton University.

Explore more:

• Raj Soin College of Business Admissions
• Ascend Leadership Academy