Christiane Theiss

Portfolio Presentation and Dissertation Defense
   Leadership | Posted on January 8, 2020

Porfolio Presentation

On July 18, Christiane Theiss presented her portfolio in the presence of a group of leaders attending the 2019 Orientation of all leadership programs of the department. Her panel consisted of Erich Baumgartner, her advisor, Randy Siebold and Jay Brand. Christiane, who is the Human Resource Director of the City of Zurich, Switzerland, came into the program during the summer of 2010. After a tragic accident which nearly cost her life, she had to pause her program for a while only to come back with determination to finish what she had started. Interestingly, Christiane was a member of two Learning Groups. This made her one of the best connected participants in the program. During her journey in the program she also became involved in caring for refugees fleeing the war in Syria. She started a non-governmental organization to work alongside other organizations which allowed her to mobilize volunteers across Europe. When the EU paid Turkey to keep the refugees within the borders of Turkey, she went there to research firsthand the needs of the displaced. During that time she also served as the President of ASI Europe, an Association of Adventist business people dedicated to the mission of the church. Congratulations Dr. Theiss. You have completed an impressive Leadership Program journey with excellence.

Dissertation Defense

Adapting to Change in the Swiss German Media Industry: Identifying and Developing Competencies needed by Journalists and Editors to Cope with Future Market Needs-A Collective Case Study
 
The focus of the dissertation was the changing environment of the media newsroom where print and video and social media are converging, displacing traditional print journalism. Christiane surprised the panel and all who came to the defense by presenting her dissertation findings in a newspaper format. The committee consisted of Erich Baumgartner, Chair; Jay Brand, Methodologist; Kim Paul, Content Specialist; Gerhard Padderatz, Content Specialist, (in person from Germany); and Lionel Matthews, served as the external examiner. This cutting edge research project illustrates how leadership research can contribute to better decision making for leaders. When Christiane began her dissertation, she was working as the HR Director of a large media company in Switzerland. Her research led to the development of a competency model to develop journalists faced with the media convergence in the newsroom. Congratulations Christiane.


Contact:
   Debbie Campos
   
   269-471-6580

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