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    Inspiring the civil revolution: The role of bullying education and experiential learning
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2015) Raffo, Deana M. ; Gilbert, Jacqueline A. ; Management
    The authors explore service-learning as a pedagogy to promote bullying prevention within schools. Specifically, they explain the preparatory experiences necessary for students in an undergraduate Experiential Learning Principles of Management course to interface with high school freshmen and the reciprocal impact that students at both levels had upon one another. Information on classroom instruction to create bullying awareness is provided to assist educators considering this partnership and to showcase positive learning experiences (along with areas that could have benefited from a different approach). The article concludes with implications for course restructuring to expand on civility and educational outreach.
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    Strategic responses of non-profit organizations to the economic crisis: Examining through the lenses of resource dependency and resourced-based view theories
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-01) Raffo, Deana M. ; Clark, Leigh Anne ; Arik, Murat ; Management
    This study examines strategies used by the nonprofit sector in response to the 2008 economic crisis. Drawing on resource dependency and resource-based view theories as frameworks for analysis, we explore the impact the use of numerous strategies on nonprofit organizational performance during this time. We analyzed 280 surveys from the Nashville MSA where nonprofits reported on their strategic response to the economic crisis. Survey items were used to calculate human resource capacity, levels of resource dependency, firm performance, and a visibility index. Findings indicated that nonprofits that had fewer funding sources were more likely to have a lower level of strategic response. However, a website presence and visibility of a board of directors were significantly related to a nonprofit reporting that its resources stayed the same or increased. Experience in the market and firm size did not appear to be significant predictors of the strategic response level. Implications of the findings for how nonprofits can position themselves with the best strategic responses during an economic crisis and recommendations for future research are discussed.
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    Leadership practices of students enrolled in a leadership theories course
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2011-01) Raffo, Deana M ; Pender, Alexis ; Management
    This research investigated the student leadership practices of undergraduates enrolled in a leadership theories course at a large, regional university using Kouzes and Posners (1998) Student Leadership Practices Inventory (SLPI). Students enrolled in the course scored higher in all five categories of exemplary leadership practices than the SLPI normative data. Furthermore, leadership studies minors scored higher than non-leadership minors in two categories, inspiring a shared vision and enabling others to act. Results indicate that there are differences in leadership characteristics between students who minor in leadership or take a leadership course as compared to students in leadership roles. It is recommended that as curricular leadership programs continue to grow and expand, these programs take student leadership characteristics into account in course development to create more effective programs to address students needs.
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    TED Talks and leadership education: Ideas worth sharing: Ideas worth sharing
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016) Raffo, Deana M. ; Management
    TED Talks are short videos of experts talking about a variety of topics. This paper outlines six TED Talks that connect with the leadership literature and topics commonly taught with an explanation of how they enhance teaching about a corresponding leadership topic. The researcher shares how introducing TED talks related to leadership can stimulate critical thinking about leadership while keeping the class interesting.
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    Teaching followership in leadership education.
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2013) Raffo, Deana M. ; Management
    This paper provides leadership educators with a resource for teaching followership. It presents a lesson for teaching students about followership in contemporary society by including key concepts and follower characteristics followed by class activities and assignments designed to engage students in active learning and self-reflective processes. A dose of whimsy enhances this lesson with the use of a YouTube video that eloquently and humorously illustrates the crucial role followers play in organizational life.