Christopher R. Pels

Dr. Christopher R. Pels serves as Contributing Faculty at Walden University in the College of Management and Human Potential, School of Psychology, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program. With over a decade of teaching and leadership expertise, Dr. Pels brings extensive professional experience to his academic role, currently serving as Vice President of People Operations at Lovingly while teaching executive leadership and human resources courses.

Dr. Pels' educational background includes:

• Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College (2011)
• MA from Medaille University
• BA from Roberts Wesleyan University

Dr. Pels' research focuses on the intersection of executive coaching and transformational leadership. His work examines how specific coaching dimensions influence leadership behaviors in organizational settings. With a strong foundation in both academic theory and practical application, his research bridges the gap between leadership development theory and real-world implementation in human resources and organizational development contexts. His scholarly approach combines rigorous academic inquiry with practical insights gained from his extensive professional experience.

Dr. Pels has been recognized for his professional achievements with notable awards including:

• Dutchess County 40 under 40 Award (2017)
• Rochester Business Ethics Award (2009)

As an educator, Dr. Pels has developed a teaching approach that integrates his substantial professional experience in human resources leadership with academic theory. He has served as a guest lecturer at St. John Fisher College's Ed.D. Program and as a research mentor at Keuka College, demonstrating his commitment to developing future leaders. His professional background as former Director and Vice President for Human Resources, Risk Management, and Organizational Development at Family Services Inc. provides rich context for his teaching in organizational leadership and human resources management.

Dr. Pels also contributes to his professional community through roles such as chairing the Human Resources Employee Relations Forum at the Rochester Business Alliance, demonstrating his ongoing engagement with current issues and practices in the human resources field.