Michelle C. Bligh, Ph.D. 2002 & M.S. 1998

Michelle C. Bligh, Ph.D. 2002 & M.S. 1998, assistant professor of psychology at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, CA, received the prestigious Sage Publications Outstanding Research Methods Award on August 4, 2003.

The award recognizes the most outstanding research methods paper given during the Academy of Management conference, held August 1-6, 2003 in Seattle, WA. Bligh cowrote, with Jeffrey Kohles and James Meindl, the award-winning paper, “Textual Analysis of Leadership During Crisis: A Methodological Illustration of Responses to 9/11.” The paper examined President Bush’s rhetoric before and after the events of September 11, 2001, using computerized content analysis.

“Leadership is rooted in communication,” says Bligh. “Speeches are a great resource for looking at leadership and understanding how leaders react in crisis situations.” Bligh resides in Escondido, CA.