Denise M. Douglas, PhD

Dr. Denise Douglas has served in a variety of leadership roles and has worked with hundreds of executives and professionals for more than a decade as an independent executive coach. She is president of Career Spark, LLC, a coaching, leadership development and educational practice, and has coached for custom corporate leadership development and coaching education programs through the Weatherhead School of Management, Cleveland Clinic leadership programs and programs offered by Cleveland State University and the Mandel Foundation.

In addition to Denise's entrepreneurial activities, she has designed/co-designed and developed coaching services and professional development centers/programs such as the Women Staff Leadership Development Institute, the Professional Development Center (CWRU) and the School of Graduate Studies Professional Development Center as an intrapreneur within her current organization, Case Western Reserve University.

Denise has more than 20 years of leadership experience in both private and public higher education institutions.  She is currently the associate Dean of Executive Education at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University (OH) where she leads a staff of 16 responsible for over 70 open enrollment professional development programs, custom corporate solutions, executive coaching, signature programs, the Executive MBA (EMBA), and operations.

Prior to her role in the Executive Education, Denise served as the Senior Associate Dean for the School of Graduate Studies and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Case Western Reserve University.  In this role, Denise led a staff of eight with responsibilities in admissions, orientation, graduate academic affairs, commencement and postdoctoral affairs.

In 2012, Denise was selected to attend the ACE National Women's Leadership Forum.  In 2009, Denise was awarded the President's Distinguished Service Award (Case Western Reserve University). Other awards and recognition include the YWCA Woman of Professional Excellence (2007), Kaleidoscope Magazine's 40-40 Club (2007) and selection to attend the prestigious HERS Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education (2005).

Denise holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota. She received her B.A. in English Literature from George Mason University.