(WEST PALM BEACH, FLA) — On March 13 to 15, Dr. Kirk Mensch, director of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s (PBA) Ethics and Organizational Behavior program, Dr. James Barge, adjunct professor for PBA’s Ethics and Organizational Behavior program, and Dr. Kristopher Cravey, associate professor of Organizational Behavior, were invited to attend the Autonomous Learning World Caucus (ALWC) at Oxford University. Three PBA graduate students, Linnea Axengren, Patricia Elliot and Dallas Watterson were also invited to attend. Mensch was awarded the Confessore Award for Academic Excellence, which recognizes scholars who have made significant contributions to the academic community through collegial engagement and a dedication to academic excellence as well as the advancement of Autonomous Learning.
The invitation-only event was hosted and co-founded by Regent University professor Dr. Paul Carr. The ALWC is designed to allow key students and scholars from around the world to present their research with the highest level of autonomy. It encourages respectful debate, empirical examination and philosophical argument to create an environment that embodies the true spirit of academic decorum and inspires scholars to pursue the most challenging issues facing society today. During the three-day conference, 15 individuals presented on their research topics.
Dr. Mensch presented, “Teach Them HOW to Think Not WHAT to Think: Incommensurate Moral Traditions in the Classroom.” He examined the decline in critical thinking and foundational skills among U.S. graduates, highlighting long-term issues in the education system. Dr. Barge presented on the topic, “Leader Moral Worldview Self-Awareness: Developing Leaders, Improving Engagement & Decision-Making.” The study explored how organizational leaders’ moral worldviews influence their decision-making and ethical engagement. Dr. Cravey presented on the topic, “The Interplay of Social Identity Theory and Agentic Learning in Leadership: Balancing Autonomy and Collective Success.” The study explored how leadership grounded in Social Identity Theory can foster agentic learning behaviors by leveraging shared group identities to motivate and empower individuals within organizations and communities of practice.
Axengren presented her thesis, “Through the Looking Glass: Navigating Challenges to Female Career Advancement in Western and Non-Western Societies.” It looked at women’s career advancement and highlighted the reoccurring gender inequality in business. Elliott presented on “Ethical Guardrails for A.I. in Neurology: Safeguarding Human Identity in Medical Innovation.” Her study examined the integration of artificial intelligence in neurology, highlighting its benefits in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation while addressing the ethical challenges it presents. Watterson presented on “Ethically Balancing Benefits and Challenges of Digital Tracking and AI in the Workplace.” She examined the ethical implications of AI and digital tracking in the workplace, balancing their benefits in efficiency and decision-making with concerns about privacy, autonomy and bias.
The assembly of researchers at various stages in their academic careers prepares all scholars to be producers of new knowledge in the field rather than simply consumers of knowledge. The ALWC scholars have expertise in various fields of study including leadership, ethics, human development, education, psychology, and others to create a unique environment of interdisciplinary collaboration and discourse.
The underlying message of the ALWC is to revisit the enormity of thinking, learning and mentoring from a Christ-centered perspective, which simply enhances life and allows doctoral students to become scholars instead of simply getting a doctoral degree.
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About Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The university has a 19-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus, and the 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA’s mission is to equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly. The university affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system.
