Conflict Between Persons: The Origins of Leadership
Amanda G. McKendree
- Arthur F. and Mary J. O'Neil Director of the Fanning Center for Business Communication
- Teaching Professor, Management & Organization
- Mendoza College of Business
- +1 (574) 631-0000
- amckendree@nd.edu
- Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Amanda G.
McKendree
Arthur F. and Mary J. O'Neil Director of the Fanning Center for Business Communication
Teaching Professor, Management & Organization
Mendoza College of Business
- Research focuses on crisis communication, conflict communication, rhetoric, and organizational identity, with current work exploring crisis communication pedagogy and leadership training.
- Published in multiple academic journals; co-author of Conflict Between Persons: The Origins of Leadership and lead editor of Business Ethics: A Case Approach.
- Past President of the Eastern Communication Association and the Pennsylvania Communication Association; member of the Management Communication Association, National Communication Association, and the Arthur W. Page Society.
- Recipient of multiple honors including the Carroll Arnold Distinguished Service Award, Mendoza Faculty Service Award, Chatham University Cornerstone Award for Business, and Distinguished Alumni recognitions.
- Named Distinguished Teaching Fellow and appointed to the Committee of Scholars by the Eastern Communication Association.
- Holds a BA in Global Policy Studies from Chatham University, an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric from Duquesne University.
- Awarded a fellowship in public affairs through the Coro Center for Civic Leadership and Carnegie Mellon University.
- Founder of Strikeout PSP, a Southwestern Pennsylvania initiative supporting awareness and research for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
- Applies communication expertise beyond academia through advocacy, leadership, and nonprofit initiatives focused on meaningful social impact.
- A connector and convener at heart, she currently serves as a Past President of the Eastern Communication Association and the Pennsylvania Communication Association. She is also a member of the Management Communication Association, National Communication Association, and the Arthur W. Page Society. Recent awards include the Carroll Arnold Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Communication Association, the Faculty Service Award for the Department of Management & Organization, Mendoza College of Business, the 2021 Cornerstone Award for Business, given by her alma mater, Chatham University, and the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from Forest Hills High School. She was recently recognized as a Distinguished Teaching Fellow and appointed to the Committee of Scholars by the Eastern Communication Association.
- After graduating from Chatham University with her BA in Global Policy Studies, she received an MPA in Nonprofit/Public Management from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She was awarded a one-year fellowship in public affairs at the Coro Center for Civic Leadership and Carnegie Mellon University, and earned her Ph.D. in Rhetoric at Duquesne University.
- Outside of academia, she applies her communication expertise to her role as founder of Strikeout PSP, a Southwestern Pennsylvania fundraising initiative focused on raising awareness and research funds for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a degenerative brain disease with no known causes, treatments, or cure. This work reminds her every day that we have a responsibility to those who have lost the ability to communicate and to continue to work in honor of those who are no longer with us.
Books
Business Ethics: A Case Approach
The New Humane: How to Thrive in a Post-AI Workplace
Teaching
Strategic Writing
This performance course is designed to strengthen students' written expression and develop a clear understanding of writing standards in the North American marketplace. Through the study of managerial communication processes, technical writing principles, and real-world case studies, students explore communication challenges faced by actual managers and organizations. The course combines strategic thinking with practical writing skills to help students communicate with clarity, precision, and purpose.
Crisis Communication
Crisis communication is the process of "verbal, visual, and/or written interaction between the organization and its publics (often through the news media) prior to, during, and after the negative occurrence." Organized by the pre-, during, and post-crisis phases, this course explores the strategies for communicating with various stakeholders and the dynamics of managing a crisis in a digital communication era with an integrated crisis communication plan. Students will examine major scholars and crisis resources, and document their understanding of crisis communication through writing assignments and a crisis simulation. Students will recognize the major concepts and theories of crisis communication, be able to list 3-5 scholars relevant to crisis communication, identify best practices for writing crisis messages, and articulate the meaning and practice of crisis communication for various crisis events.
Communicating With Impact
This course builds the skills and confidence needed to deliver presentations that resonate, persuade, and drive action. Students will explore topics including audience analysis, presentation structure, presence, communication ethics, and the use of visual support to enhance key messages. Through a mix of individual and team presentations, students will develop strategies for clear, concise, and compelling communication. By gaining practice with spontaneous, informative, and persuasive speaking, and receiving personalized feedback, students will be able to identify individual communication strengths and work to improve their speaking skills across a variety of business contexts. Whether presenting to stakeholders, leading teams, or writing for impact, students will leave the course with practical tools to communicate with confidence and purpose.
Strategic Writing
This performance course is designed to strengthen students' written expression and develop a clear understanding of writing standards in the North American marketplace. Through the study of managerial communication processes, technical writing principles, and real-world case studies, students explore communication challenges faced by actual managers and organizations. The course combines strategic thinking with practical writing skills to help students communicate with clarity, precision, and purpose.
Academic Program Development
business communicationconflict communicationcrisis communicationcommunication ethics
Elevating the Business Acumen of Communication Students: A Case Approach
A current problem facing communication faculty is elevating the business acumen of students (Ragas & Culp, 2014; 2018). This workshop offers a creative solution through the use of case method teaching and applied learning pedagogies. Participants will gain practical expertise in the case method and receive access to Business Ethics: A Case Approach (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company) along with a repository of case study resources. This text introduces students to business concepts including ethical influence, corporate reputation, codes of conduct, environmental and social sustainability, the role of business education, and inclusive economics. The featured case studies highlight authentic business problems at some of the most popular brands (Wendy’s; H&M; Starbucks Corporation) and encourage students to apply their knowledge in new contexts (Ellet, 2007). By bringing the language of business into the communication classroom, faculty can directly address these underdeveloped skills in communication students. Preparing future strategic communicators to influence the companies and organizations that employ them begins with honing their business literacy skills in the communication classroom.
At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the case teaching method.
- Create a teaching plan to cover assignment questions, content flow, and discussion timing.
- Practice strategies for case-based classroom discussion.
- Practice strategies for incorporating business literacy skills.
Higher Education
Executive Education - Practitioner Programs
Elevating the Business Acumen of Communication Students: A Case Approach
A current problem facing communication faculty is elevating the business acumen of students (Ragas & Culp, 2014; 2018). This workshop offers a creative solution through the use of case method teaching and applied learning pedagogies. Participants will gain practical expertise in the case method and receive access to Business Ethics: A Case Approach (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company) along with a repository of case study resources. This text introduces students to business concepts including ethical influence, corporate reputation, codes of conduct, environmental and social sustainability, the role of business education, and inclusive economics. The featured case studies highlight authentic business problems at some of the most popular brands (Wendy’s; H&M; Starbucks Corporation) and encourage students to apply their knowledge in new contexts (Ellet, 2007). By bringing the language of business into the communication classroom, faculty can directly address these underdeveloped skills in communication students. Preparing future strategic communicators to influence the companies and organizations that employ them begins with honing their business literacy skills in the communication classroom.
At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the case teaching method.
- Create a teaching plan to cover assignment questions, content flow, and discussion timing.
- Practice strategies for case-based classroom discussion.
- Practice strategies for incorporating business literacy skills.
Publications
McKendree, Amanda G. (2026)
Women on Tap: Creating Leadership Development Initiatives in the Alcohol Industry. Cases in Inclusive Leadership: Actionable Strategies for Individuals and Organizations.
Edward Elgar Publishing
Collett-Schmitt, K., McKendree, A., Rubey, K., & Warnell, J. M. (2025)
Beyond the Backlash: Integrating DEI in Business Education to Develop Responsible Leaders.
The International Journal of Management Education
McKendree, Amanda G. (2025)
“A Call for Business Ethics in Turbulent Times.” Business Ethics: A Case Approach.
Kendall Hunt Publishing Company
McKendree, Amanda G. (2019)
“Marie Hochmuth Nichols: Rhetoric and Character.” Pennsylvania Scholar Series. Pennsylvania Communication Association
Wiley Publishers
Arnett, Ronald C., McManus, Leeanne M. Bell, and McKendree, Amanda G (2018)
“Conflict Between Persons: The Origins of Leadership.”
Kendall Hunt Publishing Company
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Awards
2024
Committee of Scholars, Eastern Communication Association
2023
Presidential Team Irish Award for Undergraduate Research, University of Notre Dame
2023
Eastern Communication Association Distinguished Teaching Fellow Award, Eastern Communication Association
2022
Certificate in Facilitating Intercultural Learning
2022
Forest Hills School District Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award
2022
Eastern Communication Association Presidential Gavel Recognition
2022
Certification in Crisis Communication, Institute for Crisis Management
2022
Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Communicators, Ragan Communications
2021
Cornerstone Award for Business, Chatham University
2019
Faculty Service Award, Department of Management and Organization, Mendoza College of Business
2018
Carroll Arnold Distinguished Service Award, Pennsylvania Communication Association
2017
Leadership & Service Award, Communication Ethics Division, National Communication Association
2015
Certificate in Executive Management Program, University of Notre Dame
2012
Top Paper Award, Communication Ethics Division, National Communication Association
2012
Presidential Team Irish Award for Graduate School Professional Development
2012
Selected participant, Community Engagement Faculty Institute, Center for Social Concerns, Notre Dame
2011
Outstanding Reference Source Award, American Library Association