Christopher Leeds, PhD

Chris has twenty years of corporate/consulting experience specializing in business communications, strategic planning, and organizational development. He worked for the Marriott Corporation for 11 years in operations and as a regional marketing director.

Academically, Chris serves as a professor in the Barowsky School of Business and the University’s faculty athletic representative. Previously, Chris served as associate dean at the Sneden Graduate School of Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and as faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Rush University, and the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in Chicago, Illinois.

Chris’ international experience includes research for the Swedish Employers’ Confederation, Stockholm, Sweden; service as a visiting professor at the ESCEM in Tours, France and the Nagoya University of Commerce and Business in Nagoya, Japan; and as a consultant in Germany and Switzerland. 

Education

University of Illinois at Chicago, PhD, Business Administration

University of Illinois at Chicago, MBA, Strategic Management

Michigan State University, BA, Hospitality Management

Research Interests

Business Communications and Self-Efficacy

Honors and Awards

• PacWest Conference 2018, Faculty Mentor Award, 2017-2018 
• San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Award, 2017
• Barowsky Faculty Service Award, 2012 
• Barowsky Outstanding Teaching Award