College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Evan Witt, PhD

  • Pronouns: he, him, his

  • Higher Education

Evan Witt

Areas of interest

  • Student leadership development
  • Short-term study abroad
  • Curricular student leadership programs
Degrees
  • PhD, Higher Education, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2023
  • MA, Higher Education, University of Maryland-College Park, 2012
  • BA, Psychology, James Madison University, 2009
Biography

Evan currently serves as the Director of Global Executive Programs in the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. In his role he has responsibilities for four global executive MBA programs including programs in Austria and China. In 2023, he completed his PhD in the Higher Education track of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD). His dissertation explored undergraduate students’ understanding of global leadership through short-term study abroad leadership courses. He holds teaching appointments with the Leadership Minor and Learning Abroad Center at the University of Minnesota. His current courses are LEAD4961: Leadership for Global Citizenship and LEAD4481: Leadership and Social Change in Ireland.

Before moving to Minnesota, he spent five years working abroad across a variety of contexts. This included work in Qatar’s Education City, University of Auckland in New Zealand, and with Semester at Sea. He holds a Masters in Higher Education from the University of Maryland-College Park with an emphasis on Undergraduate Student Leadership Development and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from James Madison University. He grew up on Long Island, New York but currently lives in Cottage Grove, Minnesota with his partner (Kristal), kids (Ruby, Rhys, and Rosy) and two dogs. He enjoys playing basketball, cooking, camping, road trips, traveling whenever possible, and exploring all that the Twin Cities have to offer!

Dissertation

A Post-Intentional Phenomenological Exploration of Undergraduate Students’ Understanding of Global Leadership Through Short-Term Study Abroad Leadership Courses

Advisor: Michael Stebleton

Publications

Haas, L., & Witt, E. (2022, August 13). Where are the post-COVID opportunities for study abroad? University World News.

Gruszka, L., Witt, E., & Tower, E. (2019). Longitudinal comparison of orientation leader learning outcomes. Journal of college orientation and transition, 26(2). Minneapolis, MN: NODA.

Adasi, J., & Witt, E. (2017). Commitment rubric. In S. R. Komives, W. Wagner, & Associates, Leadership for a better world: Understanding the social change model of leadership development (2nd ed.; pp. 136). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Stryker, J.C., Witt, E., & Konecny, K. (2016). Internationalization of higher education: A context for student affairs and services. In Osfield, K. J. (2016). Internationalization of student affairs and services: An emerging global perspective (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: NASPA.

Kruse, T., Witt, E., & Al-Khaldi, A. (2016). Student affairs practices in the Arabian Gulf: The good, the bad and the foreign. ACPA Developments. Washington, DC: ACPA

Presentations

Witt, E. & Boyd-Brent, J. (2022, April). Leading students abroad during covid. [Invited lecture]. Excellence in Leading Learning Abroad Series, Minneapolis, MN.

Witt, E. & Farley, M. (2022, March). Toward a new model of graduate student advising. [Conference session]. John Tate Professional Development Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Proskin, J., Witt, E., & Stebleton, M. (2021, November). Promoting college student mental health through communities of care [Conference session]. NASPA Region IV-E Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Witt, E. (2021, April). COVID impact on higher education [Panelist]. Leadership in Student Affairs Student Association for the University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN.

Sullivan, E., Witt, E., & Campbell, P. (2021, March). A dialogue on dismantling white supremacy culture in orientation, transition, and retention [Conference session]. Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education Region IV/V Conference, Virtual.

Witt, E. & Gruszka, L. (2021, March). Future of student leader roles in orientation, transition, and retention [Conference session]. Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education Region IV/V Conference, Virtual.

Witt, E., Proskin, J., & Stebleton, M. (2021, March). Promoting college student mental health through communities of care [Conference session]. John Tate Professional Development Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Witt, E. & Harris, M. (2020, December). Leadership development through short-term study abroad [Conference session]. Leadership Educators Institute, Virtual.

Gonzalez, M, Witt, E., & Elwell, K. (2020, October). College student mental health [Conference session]. Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education, Virtual.

Witt, E. & Lintner, A. (2020, October). Focusing on a competency approach to student leadership [Conference session]. Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education, Virtual.

Mazone, A. & Witt, E. (2019): Identity development and self-reflection for the community engaged student. Presented at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs Community-Engaged Research Workshop Series, Minneapolis, MN.

Witt, E. & Gruszka, L. (2018). Assessing Orientation Leader Learning Outcomes. Presented at the Region V NODA Conference, Des Moines, IA.

Stryker, C., Witt, E., & Konecny, K. (2016). Outstanding voices in the field: Global voices on student affairs practice. Presented at the International Symposium of the Annual Conference of NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, Indianapolis, IN.

Sawatzke, K., Witt, E., & D’Arco, K. (2015). It’s not about the destination: It’s about the journey. Presented at the International Symposium of the Annual Conference of NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, New Orleans, LA.

Kruse, T. & Witt, E. (2015). Same same but different: A comparison of students across the GCC countries. Presented at the Annual Regional Conference for MENASA NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia Region, Doha, Qatar.

Witt, E., Winter, M., & Al Ajji, F. (2015). CSR: Campus social responsibility. Presented at the Annual Regional Conference for MENASA NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia Region, Doha, Qatar.

Witt, E. & Al Mohannadi, H. (2014). Global citizenship: Global concept, local application. Presented at the Annual Regional Conference for MENASA NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia Region, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Al Mohannadi, H., Fakhro, M., & Witt, E. (2013). Qatar LeaderShape: A cross-cultural application. Presented at the Annual NASPA-ACPA Gulf Conference on Professional Issues, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Witt, E. & Al Mohannadi, H. (2013). Who’s the new kid?: Challenges and opportunities for new professionals in the Gulf. Presented at the NASPA-ACPA Gulf Conference on Professional Issues, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Witt, E., Hetle, B., Al-Marri, J., Davar, F., Elataawneh, A., & Martinez, S. (2012). Leadership and ethics in a wasta culture. Presented at the Young Professionals Institute, Doha, Qatar.

Hiscock, J., Komives, S. R., & Witt, E. (2012). Obstacles: Developing a leadership minor. Presented at the Annual Conference of NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, Phoenix, AZ.

Hiscock, J. & Witt, E. (2011). Toward a new model of graduate student leadership development. Presented at the Annual Conference of NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, Philadelphia, PA.