A first for an MBA student

Kelsey Breer, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) student, made history in her graduate program when she submitted her extended research abstract to the flagship journal of the premier academic management organization in the world, the Academy of Management. Breer has been working as a graduate research assistant with professor Dr. Alex Bolinger, exploring the variety of ways men and women gauge a leader’s charisma. After taking the lead on drafting the abstract, Breer submitted her work to a developmental paper workshop for the Academy of Management Discoveries and was accepted.

“Only half of the abstracts submitted were accepted,” said Bolinger. “That means that this paper was selected ahead of papers submitted by a significant number of Ph.D. students and faculty [around the world].” Bolinger explained that the Academy of Management Discoveries is a new journal for the Academy of Management, which is an international organization.

“This is undoubtedly a first for an Idaho State MBA student,” said Bolinger, who presented the paper with Breer in March.

“The research process, as well as our specific findings, has reminded me of the importance of valuing differences in groups of people,” said Breer. “I can already envision future opportunities to apply my improved understanding of gender perceptions.”