About Us
Western's Leadership Advantage is a part of the Division of Enrollment and Student Services, in the Office of Student Life, under the direction of Associate Dean Dr. Reneé Collins.
Joanne DeMark, Ph.D., Leadership Development Specialist
On a daily basis, the program is directed by Joanne DeMark, Ph.D., Leadership Development Specialist.
Dr. DeMark came to Western Washington University after successful tenures as a co-founder and co-administrator of a 16-year leadership development and prejudice reduction non-profit, a decade as a
human resource development executive in ahealthcare software and services firm, and 15 years as an assistant management professor, adjunct, in the Health Policy and Management Masters program at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, the Woodruff Health Sciences Center. Dr. DeMark has consulted to dozens of organizations across the United States focusing on leadership, team and organizational development, communication skills, conflict resolution, and cross-culturally competent leadership. As a non-profit co-administer, Dr. DeMark helped her organization obtain funding from the Kellogg Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Arthur Blank Foundation, and the United Way among others. During her work in healthcare software and services, Dr. DeMark managed a direct budget of 6 million dollars and managed 23 employees. She helped implement a performance management system and a leadership curriculum in a post-merger environment that resulted in smoothing the transition of three company cultures into one; she received awards for her work. Dr. DeMark obtained her Ph.D. in an APA-approved program in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida.
Christina Carlson is the support staff for the L.E.A.D.S. Program office.
Each year, Western's Leadership Advantage is a vibrant learning environment where graduate and undergraduate scholar leaders learn through various assistantship, internship and independent study opportunities. Western Leadership Advantage benefits from the contributions of these student leaders, alumni, and volunteers.
Maggie Chappel is a graduate from the WLA Intensive Leadership Program and successfully completed the first LeaderCorp class, launched Fall 2011. She serves as the student office and program assistant for WLA. She is a double major studying political science and environmental education.
As a freshman Badatu was a particpant of the Western Leadership Advantage VIP program. Sophmore year, Badatu was coach for the VIP Scholars. Currently she is a member of the LEADS program Staff and pursing her undergrad degree in Communications. Badatu has been apart of many leadership roles on and off campus as well.
Chris Martindale-Shaw is a member of the LEADS program support staff. He is also a Junior at Western enrolled in the Financial Economics major. He enjoys leadership positions within WWU affiliated ministries that function by serving Western students. Before college Chris spent four years on his High School's student government.
