Radford University
Steve Childers
Associate Dean, Davis College of Business and Economics/Professor
Business & Economics, Coll of
- Phone:
- (540) 831-5192
- Address:
-
Kyle Hall 305
Box 6950 - Email:
- jchilders2@radford.edu
Biography
I serve as Associate Dean and Professor of Management in the Davis College of Business and Economics at Radford University, where I’ve taught since 2004. My courses in entrepreneurship, strategy, and innovation blend academic rigor with real-world application, from business simulations to experiential consulting projects.
My research focuses on the human side of strategy, leadership, and innovation. I’ve published in journals such as Group & Organization Management, Journal of Management Education, and Journal of Small Business Strategy, with several papers earning Best Paper awards from the Academy of Management and others. I'm especially interested in executive coaching, faculty identity, and small business resilience.
A native of Eastern North Carolina, I’m shaped by a love of family, barbecue, and coaching others—whether students, entrepreneurs, or colleagues. I believe in showing up, doing the work, and lifting others along the way.
Education
- Ph.D., Concentration in Strategic Studies; Social Issues- Secondary Area; Science and Technology Studies- Minor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
- MBA, Concentration in Health Care Administration, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
- B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Marketing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Recent Research and Engagement
Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, “Brazil GEOINT Initiative,” with A. Foy and P. Uppuluri.
2025.
“How executive coaches actually coach: Leveraging a relational lens” with R. Chory,
E. Offstein, and R. Dufresne, Human Resource Management Review, 2025, 35(1), 101055.
Officer and Board Member, Small Business Institute (2024– )
“How Executive Coaches Actually Coach: Leveraging a Relational Lens” with R. Chory, E. Offstein, and R. Dufresne. Presented at the NCA 110th Annual Convention in November, 2024. Selected as a Training and Development Division “Top Paper.”
"Holding Out for a Hero: The Need for Courage from Business Management Faculty" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne. Academy of Management Conference in August, 2023. Management Education and Development Best Paper Award.
100k Americas Grant, "Analyzing and Securing IoT systems," with P. Uppuluri. 2019- 2023. Hosted Brazilian IT/Entrepreneurship team to US in November of 2022. Accompanied team to Brazil in January of 2023.
“Leveraging the Student Consulting Model to Create a Comprehensive Academic Program” with D. Barber and M.L. Harris, Small Business Institute Journal. 18(1), 2022, 33-39.
“Providing Boundaries: Social Media's Espoused Values through the Lens of Virtue Ethics” with A. Stanaland and I. Clelland. Journal of Ethical and Legal Issues, 14, 2021, 1-11.
“Preserving innovation and promoting workplace collisions in the age of COVID-19” with A.J.S. Stanaland. In V.S. Sohmen, D.V. Siegfeldt, & M. Ludlum (Eds.), Global Journal of Entrepreneurship, 5 (2021 Special Issue), 101-111.
"Executive Coaching Explored: Toward a Contingency Approach" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne. Academy of Management Conference in August, 2020. Management Consulting Division Outstanding Field Report Paper Award.
"Executive Coaching Explored: Toward a Contingency Approach" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne, Journal of Management Development, 39(9/10), 2020, 1041-1056.
"Let’s Get to the Point: Pragmatic and Pedagogical Lessons on Behavioral Ethics from the United States Military Academy at West Point" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne, Journal of Management Education Special Issue: Behavioral Ethics, 41 (4), 2017, 480-496.
Courses Taught
UNIV 100, Introduction to Higher Education
MGNT 101, Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship
MGNT 240, Social Enterprise
ENTR/MGNT 250, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
MGNT 326, Cultural Diversity and International Management
ENTR/MGNT 350, Owning and Managing a Small Business
MGNT 428, Business Policy and Strategy
MGNT 450, Managing New Venture Creation
MGNT 460, Business & Society
MGNT 472, Moral Reasoning, Technology and Innovation, Honors Capstone
MGNT 490, Management Internship
MGNT 651, Entrepreneurship (graduate)
MGNT 635, Strategic Innovation (graduate)
MGNT 671, Applied Projects (graduate)
MGNT 698, Directed Study (graduate)
Publications-Journals
“How executive coaches actually coach: Leveraging a relational lens” with R. Chory, E. Offstein, and R. Dufresne, Human Resource Management Review, 2025, 35(1), 101055.
“Leveraging the Student Consulting Model to Create a Comprehensive Academic Program” with D. Barber and M.L. Harris, Small Business Institute Journal. 18(1), 2022, 33-39.
“Providing Boundaries: Social Media's Espoused Values through the Lens of Virtue Ethics” with A. Stanaland and I. Clelland. Journal of Ethical and Legal Issues, 14, 2021, 1-11.
“Preserving innovation and promoting workplace collisions in the age of COVID-19” with A.J.S. Stanaland. In V.S. Sohmen, D.V. Siegfeldt, & M. Ludlum (Eds.), Global Journal of Entrepreneurship, 5 (2021 Special Issue), 101-111.
"Executive Coaching Explored: Toward a Contingency Approach" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne, Journal of Management Development, 39(9/10), 2020, 1041-1056.
"Let’s Get to the Point: Pragmatic and Pedagogical Lessons on Behavioral Ethics from the United States Military Academy at West Point" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne, Journal of Management Education Special Issue: Behavioral Ethics, 41(4), 2017, 480-496.
“A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Factors Influencing Choice in Volunteering Activities,” with E. Offstein and R. Chory, Competitiveness Review, 25(1), 2015, 74-97.
“Strengthening Reliability in High Hazard Industries: Reconciling Tensions for Impact,” with E. Offstein, R. Kniphuisen and R. Bichy, American Journal of Business, 29(2), 2014, 125-145.
“Rebuilding Reliability: Strategy and Coaching in a High Hazard Industry,” with E. Offstein, R. Kniphuisen and R. Bichy, Journal of Organizational Change Management. 26(3), 2013, 529-555.
“Human Resources Taxonomy Revisited: Conflict, Collaboration, and Implication,” with E. Offstein, G. Harrell-Cook and J. McClellan, Journal of International Business Disciplines, 7(2), 2012, 48-73.
“Reconciling Competing Tensions in Ethical Systems: Lessons from the United States Military Academy at West Point,” with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne, Group & Organization Management, 37(5), 2012, 617-654.
“Developing Business Policy to Enhance Rural Small Business Competitiveness,” with J.B. Shore, and D.A. Henderson, Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 17(1), 2011, 47-64.
“Small Business E-Commerce Adoption Through a Qualitative Lens: Theory and Observation,” with E. Offstein, Journal of Small Business Strategy, 19(1), 2008, 35-53.
“Incommensurability and the Inability of Firms to Evolve: Using Science to Explain Firm Failure,” with J.R. Hunt, Issues in Innovation, 2(1), 2008, 1-21.
“Building Entrepreneurial E-Commerce Competitive Advantage: A Blending of Theory and Practice,” with E. Offstein, Advances in Competitiveness Research, 15(1&2), 2007, 41-53.
“The Engagement of Employees in the Strategy Process and Firm Performance: The Role of Strategic Goals and Environment,” with L.F. Tegarden, Y. Sarason, and D.E. Hatfield, Journal of Business Strategies, 22(2), 2005, 75-99.
“Entrepreneurship and E-commerce: Using Trust to Attain Competitive Advantage,” with E. Offstein and B. Geiger, Competition Forum, 2(1), 2004, 117-126.
“Competitive Environments and Sustained Economic Rents: A Theoretical Examination of Country- Specific Differences within the Pharmaceutical Industry,” with R.L. Simerly and K.E. Bass, International Journal of Management, 19(1), 2002, 89-98.
Publications-Proceedings
“How Executive Coaches Actually Coach: Leveraging a Relational Lens” with R. Chory, E. Offstein, and R. Dufresne. Presented at the NCA 110th Annual Convention in November, 2024. Selected as a Training and Development Division “Top Paper.”
"Holding Out for a Hero: The Need for Courage from Business Management Faculty" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne. Academy of Management Conference in August, 2023. Management Education and Development Best Paper Award.
“Small Business Resilience Amidst the Pandemic: Enhancing Workplace Collisions.” with A.J.S. Stanaland. Institute for Global Business Research Spring Online Conference. April 14-16, 2021.
"Executive Coaching Explored: Toward a Contingency Approach" with E. Offstein and R. Dufresne. Academy of Management Conference in August, 2020. Management Consulting Division Outstanding Field Report Paper Award.
“Dedication, Loyalty, and Passion – Three Overlooked Constructs in the Leadership Literature” with J. Kopf and B. Blaylock, Academy of Business Research Proceedings, 2020. Best Paper Award.
“The Influence of Gender and Team Membership on Performance and Learning Outcomes Within a Strategic Management-Based Industry Competition Simulation: An Empirical Study” with I. Clelland, J. Kopf, B. Thomas, and D. Henderson, Academy of Business Research Proceedings, 2020.
“Improving Business Policy Effectiveness in Rural Small Businesses,” with J.B. Shore, and D.A. Henderson, Allied Academies International Conference Proceedings, 2010.
“What Students Want from Their Employers Today,” with J.R. Hunt, SAM Conference Proceedings, 2008.
“Incommensurability and the Inability of Firms to Evolve: Using Science to Explain Firm Failure,” with J.R. Hunt, SAM Conference Proceedings, 2007.
“Building an Entrepreneurship Distinction at Radford University,” White Paper, 2006.
“Trust as an Asset: The Use of Trust by Internet Firms as a Source of Competitive Advantage,” with B.D. Geiger, International Association of Business & Society Proceedings, 2002.
“Corporate Philanthropy, Social Responsibility, and Crises Situations: An Examination of Possible Motivations for Corporate Philanthropy in the Aftermath of Hurricane Floyd,” with B.D. Geiger, International Association of Business & Society Proceedings, 2001.
Honors and Awards
- Dalton Eminent Scholar Award, Radford University, 2020
- Outstanding Faculty Award, Davis College of Business and Economics, Radford University, 2016
- Beta Gamma Sigma Inductee, International Business Honor Society, 2018
- Litschert Memorial Fellowship for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, Virginia Tech, 2003
- Pamplin Graduate Student Teaching Award, Virginia Tech, 2003
- Jack Hoover Teaching Award, Virginia Tech Department of Management, 2002
- Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society, 2002
- S.A.M. National Outstanding Advisor, 1996, 2000
- SBIDA National Case Competition – Multiple Finalist and Runner-Up Awards, 1995–2000