Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron, Ph.D., (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Leadership Studies as well as a Higher Education program faculty member in the School of Integrative Studies. She develops and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on leadership theory, ethics and leadership, leadership in the age of AI, social change, and leadership and organizational problem-solving. As a former student/academic affairs practitioner and as a current faculty member, Graziella has over 20 years of experience centered around holistic student development, increasing access to higher education, mattering, community-building, and creating learning climates that transcend time and place. Situated in her own experiences as a first-generation college student and a second-generation American, a significant focus of Graziella’s research and practice includes improving access, experience, and professional preparation for college students — particularly underserved learners; reframing leadership development/education pedagogy to meet students’ changing needs, and exploring the intersections of inclusive leadership pedagogy and student development. Graziella received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from American University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland, College Park. Read more about Graziella’s research.