Date of Award

4-2024

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Evaluation

First Advisor

Nancy B. Mansberger, Ed.D.

Second Advisor

Cynthia Phillips, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Wanda Hadley, Ph.D.

Keywords

Governance, leadership, organizational learning, phenomenology, professional associations, volunteer motivation

Abstract

This purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to explore the experiences of former volunteer leaders who served in the role of president for a professional association. A qualitative design framed by phenomenology is appropriate when seeking to understand individual reflections on a common experience (Brinkmann, 2008, Patton, 2018, Creswell & Poth, 2018). The research was framed as exploratory due to the limited qualitative studies on leadership in professional associations, and more information to understand this experience can be gained by using the qualitative phenomenological method. The phenomenon of focus in this study is motivations related to volunteer leadership, in particular volunteer board leadership in a professional association. Individuals who met the criteria were interviewed to gain insight into how they came to the role (motivations, etc.), their individual experiences from serving in this role, and to explore the essence of the phenomenon of leadership from their lived experience. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online using the Zoom platform with a purposeful sample of twenty former presidents of the American Evaluation Association. Transcripts were transcribed and analyzed using the InVivo coding within the Quirkos Computer Assisted Data Analysis software.

Motivations to volunteer aligned with findings from prior research such as contributing to their profession and belonging to a community. Findings highlighted the tensions of role expectations prior to becoming president and the reality of the position, largely attributed by interviewees to a need for role clarity and training on the governance model in use by the board. The study contributes to research on volunteer motivation in a professional association context, adding depth to knowledge of the phenomenon. This tension related to role education suggests that a pathway for volunteering with clear expectations could enhance the volunteer experience. Future research to explore motivation and to understand what type of governance best serves an organization is needed.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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