Christopher Pels

Dr. Christopher R. Pels brings a wealth of academic and professional experience to his role at Walden University. With over a decade of teaching and leadership expertise, Dr. Pels is a dedicated educator and practitioner in the field of executive leadership and human resources.

Teaching and Professional Experience: Dr. Pels completed his Ed.D. in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College in 2011, marking the beginning of his journey in academia. Over the years, he has honed his teaching skills, with a focus on organizational leadership, communication, and human resources management.

Dr. Pels' extensive professional background includes his role as Vice President of People Operations at Lovingly presently. In the past Dr. Pels was the director and then Vice President for Human Resources, Risk Management, and Organizational Development at Family Services Inc. in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Research Interests and Expertise: Dr. Pels' primary research interests lie in executive coaching dimensions and their impact on transformational leadership behaviors. His doctoral dissertation, titled "The relationship between executive coaching dimensions and transformational leadership behaviors: A validation of key coaching dimensions," is a testament to his dedication to advancing knowledge in this field. Additionally, his master's thesis explored the attitudes and beliefs of assistant district attorneys regarding partner violence cases.

Professional Involvement and Achievements: Dr. Pels' commitment to his field extends beyond the classroom and research. He has actively contributed to the academic community as a guest lecturer at St. John Fisher College's Ed.D. Program in Executive Leadership and as a research mentor for action research projects at Keuka College. Dr. Pels has also chaired the Human Resources Employee Relations Forum at the Rochester Business Alliance.

His exceptional contributions have been recognized with honors such as the Dutchess County 40 under 40 Award in 2017 and the Rochester Business Ethics Award in 2009 for his work at Dawnbreaker, Inc.

With a strong foundation in executive leadership and human resources, Dr. Christopher R. Pels continues to inspire and educate the next generation of leaders while contributing valuable insights to his field through research and practical experience. His dedication to both academia and the professional world makes him a valuable asset to Walden University and the broader community.

Education

EdD, St. John Fisher University

MA, Medaille University

BA, Roberts Wesleyan University