The Anderson University Center for Leadership and Organizations is adding three new faculty members whose substantial combined experience is further enhancing the Ph.D. in Leadership program.
“The most exciting thing is building a team that will better serve our students both in the coursework and in writing their dissertations,” said Dr. Kyle Small, director of the Anderson University Center for Leadership and Organizations. “More importantly, when the Ph.D. program started, it was business or ministry. What’s happened is we’ve got students from higher education, ministry, business, criminal justice, even health professions. Our newly established faculty team brings experience and research from each of those industries. The faculty team we have now is multidisciplinary and multi-industry, which will only serve our students and enhance our program.”
Joining the Anderson University Center for Leadership and Organizations faculty are Drs. Drs. Chris Rappazini, Maria Lai-ling Lam and Tony Caito.
Dr. Chris Rappazini
Dr. Chris Rappazini has spent more than a decade teaching at several seminaries. He currently serves on the faculty at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, and oversees the Pastoral Studies program. In addition to teaching a full load, Dr. Rappazini’s main responsibilities include advising, coaching and mentoring students regarding their coursework and future aspirations. He has lived in various cultures and countries and valued his experiences of serving in various staff roles at several denominations: Methodist, Anglican, Evangelical Free, Congregational, Baptist and non-denominational. He is currently a member of a Baptist Church and serves as an interim pastor/preacher at a church plant in Chicago.
While President of the Evangelical Homiletics Society in 2020, Dr. Rappazini led the society in adopting new technologies which they continue to utilize today for the growth and enrichment of the guild.
Dr. Rappazini holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, an M.Th. in Ethics from the University of Edinburgh, an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry from the Moody Bible Institute. He was also Truett Seminary’s first postdoctoral researcher.
Dr. Maria Lai-ling Lam
Dr. Lai-ling Lam was born in Hong Kong and is an Asian American, Christian, scholar, educator and researcher. She has taught at Christian Universities in the United States, most recently at Calvin University, and at several universities in Hong Kong. She has published one manuscript and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She has presented at academic venues in the U.S., U.K, Germany, France, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. She has consulted clients in the medical devices industry in Dubai, Israel, Germany, Japan, China, and Taiwan. She is now a fellow of the International Academy of Intercultural Research.
As a Christian professor, Dr. Lam believes, “Business is a complex vocation and I strive to participate in God’s Redemptive plan through good business practices, teaching, research, and service. I do hope I can develop students’ moral imagination so they can create better business practices that enable people to enjoy shalom.”
Dr. Lai-ling Lam holds a Ph.D. in marketing and organization behavior from George Washington University, a M.A. degree in Religion Studies, and an MBA and BBA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Tony Caito
Dr. Caito is currently an associate professor of leadership and political engagement at Corban University, where he is also the founding director of the McLaran Scholars and serves on the Institutional Review Board. Dr. Caito’s life-long vocational mission is to serve Christ through equipping the church to think better. He is an academic entrepreneur who loves turning vision into reality; he values curiosity, clarity, and collaboration. He enjoys collaborating with creative Christian graduate and undergraduate student researchers who are equipped to lead and serve; to engage deeply and fearlessly in civic life; and to turn crises into opportunities for God’s glory.
Prior to teaching, Dr. Caito worked in international non-profits, led the Messiah College Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships & Applied Research, and served as an executive director for Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, he coordinated operations and research for Samaritan’s Purse; directed research training for Global Mapping International and served as a research advisor to the United Nations UNAIDS Programme.
Dr. Caito holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master of arts degree from Biola University, a bachelor of arts degree from Cornerstone University, and also training from Moody Aviation.
About the Ph.D. in Leadership
The Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership, offered through the Anderson University Center for Leadership and Organizations, is a purely online degree program and is designed to equip individuals for the highest level of scholarship and leadership in business, ministry, education, public service, healthcare, and non-profit organizations. Details can be found online.