Kaufman Collection

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of "Poverty Reduction Through Partnership: The Role of Collaborative Civic Leadership" (Poudel & Kaufman, 2025), published within the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs. The research explores effective leadership strategies for addressing persistent poverty in the United States, specifically focusing on civic organizations in Virginia. The study used a qualitative approach involving interviews with 14 representatives from various civic groups to identify factors influencing poverty alleviation efforts. The study found three key themes: that poverty is a systemic challenge, that participatory leadership drives progress by centering community voices, and that humble leadership, characterized by empathy, selflessness, and active listening, is an effective way forward. Ultimately, the research suggests that a collaborative and community-driven approach to leadership is essential for tackling the complex, root causes of poverty, not just its symptoms.

Original Source: Poudel, S., & Kaufman, E. (2025). Poverty reduction through partnership: The role of collaborative civic leadership. Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs, 11(2), 150-167. https://doi.org/10.20899/jpna.kdqd0y91

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of "Reconceptualizing Followership Identity: A Useful Guide for Leadership Educators" (Alegbeleye & Kaufman, 2019) (https://doi.org/10.33423/jlae.v16i5.2652), published within the Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics. This article advocates for the legitimacy and continued study of followership as a distinct field of inquiry, despite critics claiming a lack of follower self-identity. Followership can be understood as a dynamic, role-based identity rather than a stable, person-based one, which allows individuals to fluidly switch between leader and follower roles. Leadership educators might integrate followership into existing leadership programs to teach aspiring leaders how to be effective followers. Such integration could change the negative connotations associated with followership and foster the development of crucial, yet often overlooked, follower behaviors like supportiveness and dependability. Ultimately, exploring followership is essential for a more profound understanding of the entire leadership process.

Original Source: Alegbeleye, I. D., & Kaufman, E. K. (2019). Reconceptualizing Followership Identity: A Useful Guide for Leadership Educators. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.33423/jlae.v16i5.2652

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of "Exploring goal‐setting as a tool for leadership development" (Kaufman et al., 2008), published within the Journal of Leadership Studies. This study investigated goal-setting theory within a leadership development program for volunteer board members of a nonprofit organization. The research used a survey to measure goal attributes like specificity and difficulty and their relationship to self-reported performance in adopting best practices. Key findings indicated that goal specificity, goal commitment, and self-efficacy positively correlated with performance, but the expected positive effect of goal difficulty was not supported, suggesting a difference from corporate settings. The study concluded that goal-setting is a valuable tool in this context, but recommended further research, especially to address the unexpected influence of gender and improve measurement instruments.

Original Source: Kaufman, E. K., Israel, G. D., & Rudd, R. D. (2008). Exploring goal‐setting as a tool for leadership development. Journal of Leadership Studies, 1(4), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.20032

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of "A case of shifting focus friction: Extension directors and state 4-H program leaders’ perspectives on 4-H LGBTQ+ inclusion," published within The Journal of Extension. This qualitative study examines the perspectives of Extension directors and state 4-H program leaders regarding the necessity and challenges of LGBTQ+ inclusion within the 4-H club program. The research found that administrators overwhelmingly recognize the presence of LGBTQ+ youth and are committed to inclusion, yet they face significant internal and external pushback, termed "Shifting Focus Friction" (SFF), from stakeholders who resist organizational change.

Original Source: Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D., Kaufman, E., Seibel, M., & Radhakrishna, R. (2021). A case of shifting focus friction: Extension directors and state 4-H program leaders’ perspectives on 4-H LGBTQ+ inclusion. The Journal of Extension, 59(4), Article 14. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.59.04.14

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of Cletzer and Kaufman's (2018) analysis of eco-leadership, complexity science, and their relevance to 21st-century organizations. The central theme is a necessary paradigm shift from traditional, mechanistic leadership models, focused on heroic individual leaders, to an ecological approach that leverages collective intelligence, adaptability, and emergent properties within complex adaptive systems. Traditional leadership approaches are "bankrupt" for today's rapidly changing, knowledge-driven world, which demands a more distributed and interconnected form of leadership. Empirical evidence from a study of 4-H programs supports the claim that ecological leadership, characterized by open systems, feedback loops, and interdependence, leads to greater organizational success and adaptability. Positional leaders still have a crucial role, but it shifts from command-and-control to one of "organizational architects" who foster the right conditions for leadership to emerge and manage the tension between structure and adaptability.

Original Source:
Cletzer, D. A., & Kaufman, E. K. (2018). Eco-leadership, complexity science, and 21st Century organizations: A theoretical and empirical analysis. In B. Redekop, D. Gallagher, & R. Satterwhite (Eds.), Innovation in Environmental Leadership (pp. 96-122). Routledge. http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315205892-6

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of a peer-reviewed Extension publication, "A Model of Leader Development Across the Lifespan." The model integrates existing theories of leadership and human development, specifically drawing on Avolio's multilevel view, Erikson's psychosocial stages, and the Higher Education Research Institute's social change model. The framework explains how trigger events throughout life, from childhood to maturity, contribute to an individual's self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-development as a leader. It emphasizes the role of critical reflection and rational dialogue in this process and offers practical implications for Extension educational programs, providing a hypothetical scenario to illustrate the model's application in real-world leadership development

Original Source:
Hanks, S. K., Kaufman, E. K., Friedel, C. R., Clegorne, N. A., Seibel, M. M., Kirland, K. C., & Burbaugh, B. J. (2021). A model of leader development across the lifespan [VCE Publication ALCE-104P / ALCE-241P]. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/ALCE/ALCE-104/ALCE-104.html 

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of research published in the Journal of Sustainability Education that explored the effectiveness of storytelling as a method for shifting attitudes towards sustainable agriculture, particularly when compared to information-based approaches. The authors hypothesized that narrative treatments would be more impactful in promoting positive change than traditional informational methods. The mixed-methods study investigated this by examining college students' responses to different interventions, including a created story about industrial farming, and identifying specific story characteristics that correlate with attitude change. The research indicates that storytelling can indeed be a powerful tool for influencing perspectives, especially among audiences who may be more resistant to change. 

Original Source: 

Grace, P. E., & Kaufman, E. K. (2013). Effecting change through storytelling. Journal of Sustainability Education, 4. https://www.susted.com/wordpress/content/effecting-change-through-storytelling-2_2013_02/ 

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of research published in the Journal of Leadership Education that explored research on rural leadership development.

The article examines the landscape of published research on adult rural leadership development between 1994 and 2004, noting a significant lack of studies. The study identified only 15 relevant articles across 10 publications through comprehensive database searches. These articles were categorized into seven sub-theme areas, with "Partnerships" being the most frequently explored topic. The study concludes by highlighting the critical need for more robust, published research to validate current investments and guide future programming in rural leadership.

Original Source: Kaufman, E. K., & Rudd, R. D. (2006). Rural Leadership Development: A Synthesis of Research. Journal of Leadership Education, 5(3), 128-141. https://doi.org/10.12806/V5/I3/RF7

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of research published in the Journal of Leadership Studies, titled "Leadership insights from Hollywood‐based war movies: An opportunity for vicarious learning." (https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.21682)   

This scholarly article explores how Hollywood war movies can serve as a valuable tool for vicarious learning in leadership education, especially for military personnel. It analyzes seven award-winning films—Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Inglourious Basterds, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Platoon, Black Hawk Down, and The Hurt Locker—to identify various leadership styles, such as transformational, transactional, authoritarian, and servant leadership, portrayed by their main characters. The article proposes a methodological approach for educators to effectively incorporate these films into curricula, enabling students to contextualize theoretical concepts and develop their leadership qualities. Ultimately, the paper advocates for the integration of war films to prepare and motivate young military leaders. 

Source: Kuri, S. K., & Kaufman, E. K. (2020). Leadership insights from Hollywood‐based war movies: An opportunity for vicarious learning. Journal of Leadership Studies, 14(1), 53-61. https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.21682 

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.

This is a Google Notebook LM Audio Overview (i.e., "deep dive" discussion) of research published in the Journal of Extension, titled "Extension Administrators’ Perspectives on Employee Competencies and Characteristics."  The article examines the essential skills and traits required for effective Cooperative Extension System professionals. It highlights a disconnect between the current curriculum of Extension education programs and the actual competencies administrators seek in employees, such as proficiency in technology, diversity, and volunteer management. Furthermore, the source discusses the critical need for a more demographically diverse Extension workforce to better serve the varied populations within states. It concludes by suggesting that a comprehensive reevaluation of the Extension workforce development pipeline, from education to recruitment and onboarding, is necessary to bridge these gaps.

Source: Elliott-Engel, J., Westfall-Rudd, D., Seibel, M., Kaufman, E., & Radhakrishna, R. (2021). Extension Administrators’ Perspectives on Employee Competencies and Characteristics. The Journal of Extension, 59(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.59.03.03

Note: Google Notebook LM Audio Overviews (including the voices) are AI-generated, so there might be inaccuracies.