Dr. Jenifer Lewis is Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Accreditation in the NU Graduate School of Business. As Vice Dean, Dr. Lewis has strategic and operational responsibilities for all degree programs offered in the school (MBA, EMBA, MSc Finance, PhD) as well as GSB's ongoing accreditation process with AMBA and AACSB. Dr. Lewis teaches classes in Leadership and Business Communication in the EMBA and MBA programs. She holds a Senior Fellowship with Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Association, HEA).

Dr. Lewis earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication Studies from The University of Kansas with emphases in Political Communication and Leadership.  She was an Associate Professor and Director of Degree Programs in NUGSB from 2016-2021. She joined Nazarbayev University in 2011 in the first cohort of NU faculty members. Prior to joining GSB, she was a professor in and (Acting) Chair of the Department of Communication at NU in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

She is a co-PI on a major collaborative research grant (2021-2024). Her current research examines issues of leadership in Kazakhstan and views related to gendered expectations of leaders. She is keenly interested in studying the gender based barriers to the advancement of women in leadership. Dr. Lewis established the Women’s Leadership Development Program at NU, and the NU Women Lead Association. Prior to her career in academia, Prof. Lewis worked in state government in the United States for the Kansas Department of Human Resources, and as a political appointee in the Kansas Secretary of State’s office.

Her current research examines issues of leadership in Kazakhstan and views related to gendered expectations of leaders. She is keenly interested in studying the gender based barriers to the advancement of women in leadership. Dr. Lewis established the Women’s Leadership Development Program at NU, and the NU Women Lead Association. Prior to her career in academia, Prof. Lewis worked in state government in the United States for the Kansas Department of Human Resources, and as a political appointee in the Kansas Secretary of State’s office

Current Projects

Historical and Cultural Overview: Women in Central Asia. In D. Seitova & G. N. McLean (Eds.), Central Asian Women in Leadership. (Co-authoring with D. Seitova)
Voices of Central Asian Women Leaders: Constraints and Strategies. In D. Seitova & G. N. McLean (Eds.), Central Asian Women in Leadership. (Co-authoring with A.S. CohenMiller)
Leadership in Kazakhstan: Exploring Ideal Leadership Characteristics.
Recent Presentations or Conference Papers:

“Inclusive & Intercultural: Reflective Analysis of a Leadership Course in an International University.” (2016). International Leadership Association Global Conference. Atlanta, GA, USA.
“Leadership in Kazakhstan: Exploring Ideal Leadership Characteristics.” (2015). International Leadership Association Global Conference. Barcelona, Spain.
“Breaking New Ground in Kazakhstan to Develop Women’s Leadership.” (2015). International Leadership Association Global Conference. Barcelona, Spain.
“Leadership Lessons from the Women’s Leadership Development Program at Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan).” (2014). International Studying Leadership Conference. Copenhagen, Denmark.
“Gender, ethnicity, and leadership: A study of audience perception of leadership ability.” (2014). Gender in focus: (new) trends in media conference. Braga, Portugal.

Leadership
Business Communication