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Dr. Elise Lael Kieffer (Program Director and Assistant Professor) came to ¹Ï×ÓTV State University in 2021 to serve as program director of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies academic programs and also as the Director of the Nonprofit Resource Center. Specializing in Rural Arts Management, Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Management, and Rural Nonprofit Development, Dr. Kieffer is dedicated to advancing the sustainability and impact of nonprofit organizations in rural communities, ultimately seeking to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work. In recognition of her contributions to the field, Dr. Kieffer was named a ¹Ï×ÓTV State University Emerging Scholar in 2024. She is the author of Routledge Rural Arts Management (2024), a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities in managing arts organizations in rural settings. She is published widely in American Journal of Arts Management, Journal of Nonprofit Innovation, and others. Her professional experience ranges from on the ground building an organization from the ground up to consulting with international nonprofit organizations with global reach. Dr. Kieffer holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre performance, a Masters in Public Administration with a certificate in nonprofit management, and a PhD in arts administration with a certificate in program evaluation. Her diverse educational background combined with varied work experiences create a pedagogical and professional emphasis on communication, collaboration, and pragmatism. She emphasizes impactful, experiential learning in her classroom. Beyond academia, Dr. Kieffer is passionate about fostering community engagement through the arts and enjoys practicing yoga as a way to stay balanced and inspired.

Robin Esau (Senior Instructor) has always held a strong affinity toward the incredible, life-changing and impactful work of faith-based philanthropy. Bringing that interest and passion to the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program has allowed her to develop strong connections with our local faith-driven nonprofit partners and provide opportunities for students with similar passions and interests to explore the intersection of faith with every type of organized effort imaginable to help those in need, make life more enjoyable, and enable communities to become stronger in every aspect . Additionally, she has a specific interest in international service and development and has created and led community service focused study abroad experiences to Germany, Austria, South Korea, and Jamaica, where program participants served with international NGOs. During her tenure at ¹Ï×ÓTV State, she has provided professional development trainings for regional nonprofit leaders through the Nonprofit Resource Center as well as held key leadership roles in campus efforts related to service-learning and civic-engagement. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from ¹Ï×ÓTV State and earned the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Additionally, she is a member of the Kentucky Nonprofit Network, the Association of Certified Nonprofit Professionals, ¹Ï×ÓTV Rotary Club, Calloway United Benevolent Services (CUBS), and has served on a range of nonprofit boards and ¹Ï×ÓTV committees. Areas of Specialization: Leadership, Governance, Human Resources, Volunteer Management, Advocacy, International Relief & Development, Faith-based Philanthropy.

Mike Gowen (Senior Instructor) joined the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program in 2017. Serving as the program director for Recreation prior to that, Mike had various roles and responsibilities in environmental and outdoor education nonprofit organizations. He’s held certifications and credentials from organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Leave No Trace Center of Environmental Ethics, and the Professional Climbing Instructor Association. He has taught for organizations ranging from Friends of Land Between the Lakes and the Boy Scouts of America to the National Association of Interpretation. Mike enjoys showing up for a number of nonprofits in his free time, including serving on the board of the Western Kentucky Climbers Coalition and the local Tennessee RiiverLine Leadership team. Volunteering for opportunities to get dirty doing environmental cleanup work is something you’ll also find Mike doing. He recently traveled with ¹Ï×ÓTV students to Memphis for Living Lands and Waters’ alternative spring break. This spring he was certified as a Green Dot violence prevention program instructor and hopes to play a role in expanding violence prevention programming in western Kentucky.

Dr. Dockins was born in Hobart, Indiana during the winter of 1976. She currently resides in Western Kentucky. In 2001, Dockins completed the Women’s Studies program at Purdue University and continued studies in psychology and education until she earned a BIS degree in education from ¹Ï×ÓTV State University in 2007. In 2012, she earned a master’s in teaching from the University of the Cumberlands followed by a Ph.D. in Leadership with a specialty in Business Administration focused on Nonprofit Management in 2021. Throughout her studies, Dr. Dockins has maintained a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the National Honor’s Society. She participated in a teaching internship program at Purdue University and published her first research in the Kentucky Counseling Association Journal in 2008 as an undergraduate student. As a grant writer for a rural school district, Dr. Dockins was awarded over $2 million in state, federal, and foundation grants. She has since become a nonprofit consultant with the Community Foundation of West Kentucky and is passionate about establishing community funds in rural counties as a means to sustain local nonprofit services and strengthen hometown communities.