Chris Willis

Chris Willis is an Associate Professor and Assistant Director for Graduate Education at Bowling Green State University's College of Education & Human Development, with a primary affiliation in the School of Counseling, Higher Education, Leadership and Foundations. His academic credentials include an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Indiana University (2011), an M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Ball State University (1996), and a B.S. in Mathematics Education and Economics from Ball State University (1993).

Dr. Willis's research explores critical issues in educational reform, policy implementation, and innovative teaching methodologies. His work consistently addresses systemic barriers in education, leadership dynamics in special education contexts, and data-driven approaches to school improvement. A unifying theme across his scholarship is the intersection of policy, equity, and practical leadership solutions in K-12 and higher education environments.

His publications demonstrate strong thematic coherence around educational leadership challenges, with recent work (2024) focusing on compassionate leadership frameworks and vocational education reform. Earlier research examined teacher evaluation systems, labor policies, and administrative decision-making, particularly within Ohio's educational landscape.

Notable Awards:

• Leadership for Social Justice SIG of AERA Bridge Award (2015)
• Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership Reviewer of the Year (2014)
• BGSU Master Teacher Nominee (2016, 2017)
• EDHD Influential Professor Recognition (2014)

Advising & Grants: Dr. Willis has supervised six doctoral candidates to completion (2017-2018) and served on multiple dissertation committees. He co-directed the $87,122 BGSU Career Technical Leadership Preparation Program (2018), funded by the Ohio Departments of Education and Higher Education to develop leadership pipelines in technical education.