Dr. Dave Houglum's Welcome Letter

I serve as the Director of Leadership Studies and Leadership Professor of Practice in the Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation at the University of Portland, where I also hold concurrent faculty appointments in the Pamplin School of Business, School of Education, and College of Arts and Sciences. I am originally from Soldotna, Alaska, where I grew up salmon fishing, hiking, and playing basketball under the midnight sun. Making music is also a very important part of my life. I play the piano, trumpet, guitar, ukulele, cajón, harmonica, and sing. I also love international travel and adventure. I have traveled to 32 countries and have a goal to explore all seven continents. I have led servant leadership immersions and courses to Zambia, the Philippines, Nicaragua (twice), India, New Zealand (twice), and Spain. I am passionate about educating leaders in the issues that matter most in our world, such as climate change, sustainability, indigenous rights and multiple ways of knowing, immigration, poverty, education, healthcare, human trafficking, and archaeology.

I received a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, Washington) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Leadership from Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington). This academic training in Leadership Studies equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve and lead effectively as a leadership administrator, educator, scholar, researcher, and coach/mentor. I have served as a leadership coach for numerous students, professionals, and leaders and have taught multiple courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. I have also served as a faculty member in Gonzaga University’s graduate leadership programs and have taught for Gonzaga University’s School of Law. In addition, I have supported doctoral students through dissertation advising and committee service in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Interdisciplinary Leadership program at Creighton University.

I am the founder of Dave Houglum Leadership, LLC, a leadership coaching and consulting business through which I provide coaching, facilitation, leadership development, and speaking engagements. In addition, I hold the CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) credential through the Co-Active Training Institute and the PCC (Professional Certified Coach) credential through the International Coaching Federation. I am also certified in the Leadership Circle Profile 360, Collective Leadership Assessment, EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360, Hogan Assessments, DiSC, and the Integrative Enneagram assessment. My education and professional formation have equipped me to serve as a catalyst for the transformation of students, faculty, staff, and leaders across many sectors, helping them respond to the needs of the world through hope, compassion, courage, and leadership for the common good.

I have worked with leaders across numerous sectors, including business, nonprofit organizations, higher education, K-12 education, healthcare, churches and clergy, government, law enforcement, the military, and collegiate and professional athletics. In this work, I regularly provide executive and leadership coaching, consulting, training, workshops, keynote presentations, and speaking engagements for a wide variety of organizations, teams, and leaders, including the Oregon Army National Guard JAG Unit and emerging leaders in the European Leadership Programme in Brussels, Belgium, who serve with organizations such as the European Parliament, the European Commission, NATO, various embassies, NGOs, and the United Nations. I am also a published author and serve as a scholarly manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Leadership Education and the Journal of Leadership Studies. I have presented at multiple International Leadership Association Global Conferences, as well as other academic and professional conferences in the United States and internationally, on topics including servant leadership, leadership coaching, organizational development, and the integration of artificial intelligence in leadership education and coaching. In addition to my academic, professional, and consulting work, I served on the Board of Directors for the Maybelle Center for Community in downtown Portland, including as Board Secretary on the Executive Board.

I am married to my wife Melissa and we have three children. We also have a playful Bernese Mountain Dog named Happy. Melissa and I have also served for multiple years as summer Program Advisors at Camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where we support the leadership development and growth of staff and campers through coaching, mentoring, teaching, music, experiential learning, and our work with Champ Camp, Lutherhaven’s camp for people with disabilities.

I am passionate about the study and practice of leadership. Above all, I have a desire to help students, faculty, staff, and leaders see more clearly, respond more ethically, and serve and lead more willingly in their personal and professional lives. It has been incredibly inspiring to see the numerous lives transformed through the Leader Certificate Program. I invite you to consider participating in a leadership course in the Franz Center and to explore the ways that intentional leadership development, coaching, and formation can make a difference in your life, work, and community.

Dave Houglum, Ph.D., CPCC, PCC
Director for Leadership Studies & Leadership Professor of Practice