LATROBE, PA— Dr. Michael J. Urick, dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government and professor of management and operational excellence at Saint Vincent College, was featured on the “What makes a good boss?” episode of the BBC World Service audio program “The Forum.” The show began streaming October 28 on the BBC website and is also available as a podcast.
On the show, Urick discussed his work on learning about management and leadership through popular culture, focusing on his books in the “Exploring Effective Leadership Practices in Popular Culture” series. He has authored and co-authored books on learning leadership through the “Star Wars” franchise, the works of author J.R.R. Tolkien, and the “Game of Thrones” television show for the series. Urick has also published academic articles related to leadership and other areas of popular culture in various peer-reviewed journals, including superheroes such as “The Avengers” and “Wonder Woman.”
Before appearing on the BBC, Urick’s work on learning leadership through the works of Tolkien (including “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”) has earned attention from a variety of academic and media outlets. In 2022, he presented his work at the University of Oxford in the UK and was featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal. Earlier in 2023, he was named an Inklings Fellow through the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. The Inklings Fellowship at Notre Dame is comprised of a selected group of international interdisciplinary scholars that examine how the works of Tolkien and fellow author C.S. Lewis can inform a variety of fields.
In Spring 2024, Urick will offer a core course at Saint Vincent College related to his work on leadership and popular culture entitled “Leadership for Jedi, Wizards, and Superheroes.”
PHOTO: Dr. Michael Urick