Jeanne S McPherson, PhD
Organizational Communication
Jeanne McPherson combines the best of cutting-edge, organizational and communication theories with global reality. Her career is characterized by an ability to successfully engage individuals with competing positions. From facilitating workshops in the 1980s with battling (literally) employees of differing heritages, to angry federal employees in the 1990s in history-making layoffs, to newly merged work teams and competing public and environmental groups in the new millennium, her work revolves around managing conflict and promoting collaboration to move forward.
Adept in French and Spanish as well as English, she draws out the best from cross-functional and multi-cultural/multi-ethnic groups. Dr. McPherson has worked with the US Forest Service on a test collaboration effort with competing public stakeholder groups, serving as lead facilitator. She teaches Environmental Dispute Resolution at Washington State University Tri-Cities as a result of this work. Her career evolved from editing research of scientists and engineers in the area of nuclear waste and alternative energy sources to team issues, conflict management, and collaborative leadership.
Organizational Consulting—1980 to Present (Highlights)
- Leadership Development/Change Management: Developed and facilitated 18 seminars on leadership skills tied to managing change for a contractor on the Hanford site
- Collaborative Leadership Development: Conducted a cutting-edge leadership development program for an emergency training facility serving as a regional center for Homeland Security and other agencies
- Colville National Forest Collaboration: Participated in the design of a tri-county collaborative performance plan, including budgeting; facilitated the commissioners’ design meeting and public meetings
- Keynote Speaker: Presented at the national conference for Public Relations Managers of the US Forest Service in Atlanta; led small-group workshop
- Change Management/Customer Relationships: Designed a training program in organizational change for a hazardous waste cleanup firm; presented this program in seven states and two Canadian provinces
- Organizational Development: Conducted programs in team building, change management, leadership, and conflict resolution for agencies of the US government over a period of eight years
- Executive Development: Served as part of a university program where executives of technical organizations were trained in leading the changing workplace; provided communication training for managers
- Organizational Change: Developed a training program for managers of a newly merged hospital organization with 6000 employees—coaching skills, problem performers and other challenges; wrote reference manual
- Organizational Restructuring: Served on a team working with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a US DOD educational organization providing nonmilitary opportunities for sharing interests and problem-solving
- Performance Evaluation—Developed a program to train managers of a national textbook organization in evaluating their subordinates, including documentation for motivation, realistic ratings, and performance
- Documentation: Served as co-facilitator for developmental meetings and writer of a draft Stakeholder Coordination Plan, a project to reclaim contaminated federal land; worked with executives in the Government Services Administration and the Department of Transportation
- Communication Skills Training: Provided oral and written language skills training for more than 15 years to technical professions; training in Standard Business English for employees using nonstandard English dialects on the job (regional, ethnic, and foreign)
2008 to Present — Adjunct Professor, Washington State University Tri-Cities; University of South Alabama, Mobile
2003 to 2006—Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama
1999-2002—Teaching Assistant, University of Colorado at Boulder, PhD Program
1995-1999—Adjunct Instructor, University of Denver Corporate Development Program
PhD, Organizational Communication—University of Colorado at Boulder
MA, Romance Languages and Literatures—French major/Spanish minor, University of Florida in Gainesville
BA, Modern Languages—French major/Spanish minor, Purdue University (year at the University of Strasbourg, France)
Board Member–National Management Association (NMA), Mid-Columbia Leadership Development Association (MCLDA); Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; PDQ Foundation; Three Rivers Community Foundation; Columbia Center Rotary Club
Member–Tri-Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Institute of Rotary International–Certified Instructor, Pacific Northwest Region; District Trainer
