Third Floor Research

Third Floor Research is an applied research partnership between the Kansas Leadership Center and the Staley School of Leadership. It is an international research initiative that fosters innovation in the exercise and development of leadership in a rapidly changing world. Third Floor Research contributes to a global understanding of leadership, adaptation and change management.

In partnership with institutions and organizations such as Claremont Graduate University, Cleveland Leadership Center, Ewing Marion Kauffmann Foundation, and New York University, Third Floor Research studies include national collaborations to better understand the impact of leadership development.

What we do

• Studying the impact of leadership development programs at the individual, organizational, challenge, and cultural level.
• Demonstrating the impact of community engagement efforts

Read more about our work on the Staley School of Leadership blog.

KLC’s Kansas Beats the Virus campaign improved public health

The impact of leadership development programs on individuals’ leader behavior

Leadership development contributes to a more engaged workforce

Who we are

Core Team

• Tim Steffensmeier, Ph.D., director of Third Floor Research
• Keyhan Shams, Ph.D., assistant director of Third Floor Research
  
  • Contributions: Signature Research Project
• Akshay Kumar Kona, graduate research assistant
  • Contributions: Database management and analytics

Staley School Research Contributors

• Anisah Ari, University of Florida
• Brandon Kliewer, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Knoxville
• Tamas Kowalik, Ph.D., (K-State alumni), Fort Hays State University
• Roberta Maldonado Franzen, Ph.D., (K-State alumni), Duke University
• Kerry Priest, Ph.D., Staley School of Leadership
• Carlie Snethen, Garney Construction
• Andy Wefald, Ph.D., Staley School of Leadership
• RJ Youngblood, University of Tennessee Knoxville