Jim Leaman

POSITION: Associate Professor of Business; Program Director - Business & Leadership

DEPARTMENTS:
School of Social Sciences and Professions
Business & Leadership

LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | CC 206C

PHONE: (540) 432-4152

James M. Leaman, Ph.D., chairs the Business and Leadership Program, where he teaches undergraduate courses in management, finance and economics, and graduate courses in organizational and leadership studies. Industry experience includes both private business and nonprofit administration, including 12 years of service with an international non-governmental organization (INGO) in Kenya. Academic preparation includes a Ph.D. in Public and International Affairs, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and computer science. The perspective Jim adds to his field is analyzing and teaching about the role and impact of business and organizations within ecological limits and dynamic social systems, resulting in an integrated lens of sustainability, stewardship and justice.

Education

BS, Eastern Mennonite University (Business Administration & Computer Science with Minor in Mathematics)
MA, James Madison University (Public Administration)
PHD, University of Pittsburgh (Public and International Affairs)

Publications
Leaman, James M and C Hendricks (2023), "Geothermal Heat Pumps: Reputation vs. Reality", The Green Building Advisor, August 2023.
Leaman, James M and C Hendricks (2023), "Integrating an ERV or HRV into a Forced Air System: this economical approach to healthy indoor air quality has its challenges", The Green Building Advisor, May 2023.
Leaman, James M and C Hendricks (2022), "Misleading R-Value and the Need to Reframe Insulation Scales", The Journal of Light Construction (JLCONLINE), May 2022.
Leaman, James M. (2012), “Toward Restorative Leadership”, Papers and Proceedings of the inaugural Annual Conference on Sustainability in Business, Issued December, 2012.
Leaman, James M. (2012), “Student Discovery and Active Learning in Economics: Autonomy, Position Papers and Student Debate Yield Engaged, Transformative Learning”, Papers and Proceedings of the Twenty Third Annual Teaching Economics Conference, May issue 2012.
Leaman, James M. (2011), “Why are Gas Prices so Low?”, The Mennonite, May Issue 2011, 05/01/11.
Leaman, James M. (2010), “Management: Current Practices and New Directions”, Book Review in Christian Business Academy Review (CBAR), Spring Issue 2010, vol. V, no. 1.
Scholarly Presentations and Abstracts
- Reducing Operational Carbon, Considerations in Virginia Construction Projects, Half Moon Education, Virginia regional webinar, October, 2024
- Reducing Embodied Carbon, Considerations in Virginia Construction Projects, Half Moon Education, Virginia regional webinar, October, 2024
- Contemporary Economic Issues in the U.S. and Canada (co-presenting), Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Lancaster, PA, November, 2022
- Market Disruptions: Energy, Energy Storage, and Transportation (co-presenting), Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Online, November, 2021
- Economic Commentary on the United States and Canada (co-presenting), Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Indianapolis, IN, November, 2018
- Sustainable Housing: New Analysis Turns the Tables, University Colloquium Presentation on Sabbatical Research, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA, February, 2018
- Economic Commentary on the United States and Canada (co-presenting), Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Vancouver, BC, November, 2017
- Video Displacing Text for Enhanced Knowledge Acquisition and Dissemination, Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) Conference, Center for Instructional Technology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, October, 2017
- Sustainable Business Practices (co-presenting), Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), San Antonio, TX, October, 2016
- Advantages of Synchronous Online Teaching and Learning, Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, Center for Instructional Technology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, October, 2016
- Commentary on the Macro Economy of the United States, Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Richmond, VA, November, 2015
- Synchronous Online Teaching and Learning: Advantages over the Traditional Classroom, Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, Center for Instructional Technology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, October, 2015
- Lessons Learned from Collaborative Programs at Bluffton, Canadian Mennonite, EMU and Goshen (co-presenter, via Zoom), Mennonite Education: Past, Present and Future, a Conference for Leaders, Teachers, and Scholars, Bluffton, Ohio, October, 2015
- Renewable Energy Investments for Nonprofits in an Evolving Policy and Regulatory Environment, Joint Biennial Conference of the Canadian and United States Societies for Ecological Economics (CANUSSEE 2015), Vancouver, B.C., Canada, October, 2015
- Commentary on the Macro Economy of the United States, Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Winnipeg, Canada, November, 2014
- Commentary on the Macro Economy of the United States, Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Wichita, KS, November, 2013
- Peer Review Board for the Virginia Social Science Journal (2013)
- Book Review Team for Sharp, Register and Grimes (2013), Economics of Social Issues, 20th ed., McGraw-Hill Irwin: New York
- Commentary on the Macro Economy of the United States, Annual Conference of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Niagara, ON, Canada, November, 2012
- Toward Restorative Leadership, Plenary Presentation at the Conference on Sustainability in Business, Jaipuria Institute of Management (Jaipur Campus), Jaipur, India, December, 2012
- Autonomy, Position Papers and Student Debate Yield Engaged, Transformative Learning, The 23rd Annual Conference for Teaching Economics: Instruction and Classroom Based Research, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA, February, 2012
Other Presentations
- Sustainable Housing: Surprisingly Simple, Invited webinar presentation on research for the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society (ACRS), May, 2021
- Sustainable Housing: Surprisingly Simple, Invited webinar presentation on research for the Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions (CSCS), December, 2020
- Commentary and Conversation on the Macro Economy (U.S.), Everence-sponsored event to resource local and regional business leaders, Harrisonburg, VA, December, Annually since 2014
- Presenter (or co-presenter) for structured in-house professional development workshops for EMU faculty. – The Socratic Discussion Method of Teaching and Learning (2013) – Online Teaching: Learning Through Experience (Jan. 2015, Aug. 2015)
- Speaker at Climate Action Alliance of the Valley event on Solar PV: “Solar PV for Churches” (February, 2012)
- Numerous speaking and facilitation engagements; available as resource or for speaking on the following topics: – The cost of carbon and valuing carbon – Voluntary Gas Tax for organizations – Creation Care for organizations – Solar PV for organizations – Sustainability solutions
Church, Community and Professional Service
- Board Member and Chair, Gift and Thrift Industries of Virginia, (2016 – present)
- Administration and Stewardship Commission, Park View Mennonite Church (2008 – present)
- Creation Care Council, Chair, Park View Mennonite Church (2009 – present)
- Climate Justice Initiative, Chair, Park View Mennonite Church (2016 – present)
Professional Memberships
- International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE)
- American Economic Association (AEA)
- Society for International Development (SID)
- Academy of Management (AOM)
- Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
Professional Conferences Attended
- Considerations in VA Construction Projects, VA region (October, 2024)
- Solar Leadership Circle, Ruckersville, VA (October, 2024)
- Mennonite Higher Education Conference, Harrisonburg, VA (May, 2024)
- MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) Annual convention, Toronto, ON (November, 2023)
- Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA (June, 2023)
- Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) Annual convention, Lancaster, PA (November, 2022)
- Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA (June, 2022)
- International Humanistic Management Association (IHMA) Dignity and its role in management research and education (July, 2021)
- International/European Society of Ecological Economics (ISEE/USEE) Degrowth 2021 Online Joint Conference (July, 2021)
- Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA (June, 2021)
- Roanoke River Currents Conference, Clean Valley Council, Roanoke, VA (October, 2020)
- New Paradigm for The New Normal, Global Conference on Reimagining Jesuit Business Education (July, 2020)
- Restorative Justice in Education Conference, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA (June, 2020)
- Virginia Solar Congress, Williamsburg, VA (November, 2019)
- Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual convention, Indianapolis, IN (November, 2018)
- Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual convention, Vancouver, BC (November 2017)
- Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, Center for Instructional Technology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, October, 2017
- Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual convention, San Antonio, TX (October 2016)
- Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, Center for Instructional Technology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, October, 2016
- Transforming the Economy: Sustaining Food, Water, Energy and Justice, Conference of The International Society for Ecological Economics, Washington DC, June, 2016
- The Council of Independent Colleges 2016 Workshop for Department and Division Chairs, Portland, ME, May, 2016
- Leading into the Common Good: an Anabaptist Perspective, Leadership conference at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA, April, 2016
- Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual convention, Richmond, VA (November 2015)
- Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, Center for Instructional Technology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, October, 2015
- Pathways for Change: Toward a Just and Sustainable Society, Joint Biennial Conference of the Canadian and United States Societies for Ecological Economics (CANUSSEE 2015), Vancouver, B.C., Canada, October, 2015
- Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual convention, Winnipeg, Canada (November 2014)
- Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference: Explore the Possibilities, Center for Instructional Technology at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA (October 2014)
- Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual convention, Wichita, KS (November 2013)
- Conference on Sustainability in Business, Jaipuria Institute of Management (Jaipur Campus), Jaipur, India (December 2012)
- Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual convention, Niagara, ON, Canada (November 2012)
- Teaching Economics: Instruction and Classroom Based Research Conference, Pittsburgh, PA (February 2012)
New Courses Taught
- (ECON 201) Survey of Economics (First taught: Fall 2009)
- (ECON 211) Principles of Microeconomics (Spring 2007)
- (ECON 212) Principles of Macroeconomics (Fall 2006)
- (ECON 300) Environmental and Ecological Economics (Fall 2012)
- (ECON 311) Contemporary Economic Issues (Spring 2008)
- (ECON 401) Development Economics (Fall 2006)
- (ECON 481) Economics Internship (Fall 2018)
- (FIN 289) Personal Finance and Investing (Fall 2008)
- (FIN 481) Finance Internship (Spring 2020)
- (BUAD 101) Business at EMU (Fall 2016)
- (BUAD 221) Principles of Management (Fall 2008)
- (BUAD 471) Business Plan Capstone (Fall 2010)
- (BUAD 481) Business Internship (Fall 2017)
- (ACTG 445) Accounting Seminar (Spring 2022)
- (ACTG 481) Accounting Internship (Spring 2018)
- (CIS 211) Spreadsheet and Data Management (Fall 2020)
- (LEAD 281) Leadership Practicum (Fall 2018)
- (LEAD 481) Leadership Internship (Spring 2019)
- (MKTG 481) Marketing Internship (Spring 2019)
- (POL 311) International Relations (Fall 2009)
- (CCSSC 201) Kenya Cross-Cultural Seminar (Summer 2014)
- (OLS 510) Leadership & Management for the Common Good (Fall 2013)
- (MBA 648) Project Management and Grant Writing (Summer 2009)
- (MBA 638) Finance and Accounting for Nonprofit Executives (Fall 2010)
- (MBA 650) Sustainable Organizations and Global Citizenship (Summer 2019)
- (MBA 680) Sustainable Organizations for the Common Good (Summer 2015)
- (PUAD 653) Ethics and International NGOs (Summer 2011)
- (HONRS 312) Honors Colloquium: How should I live as one of seven billion people in the finite space of planet earth? (Spring 2013)
EMU Service
- Faculty Senate, President (2022 - 2024)
- Colleague Review Committee, chair, (2019 - 2024)
- Creation Care Council (2012 – present)
- Intercultural Committee (2019 - present)
- Search Committee, VP of Operations and CFO (2023)
- Search Committee, Controller (2023)
- Search Committee (co-chair), Interim President (2024)

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