Faculty Profiles
Dr Dan Novak
Dr. Novak coordinates and teaches in the Master’s of Science in Leadership program at South University, where he supports South’s students as they become successful leaders—fully prepared to lead in tomorrow’s complex and turbulent organizational models. He also facilitates the leadership seminar in South’s Accelerated MBA program.
Dr. Novak holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University's School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship with a secondary focus in Human Resource Development. He also holds an MBA from the University of Dallas, a BBA from the University of North Texas, and a Six Sigma Green Belt certification with a specialization in healthcare. Dr. Novak has served as adjunct professor at Texas Christian University and at Texas Wesleyan University, where he taught graduate-level courses in innovation, management, and marketing. He has published book chapters and articles on the organization-customer interface, leading virtual teams, servant leadership, and on leading in collaborative, networked, and highly-matrixed environments. He has presented at conferences around the world speaking about innovation, leadership, values, trust, organizational alignment, social/organizational networks, Healthcare 2.0., and the patient-provider interface.
Dr. Novak has also consulted in the areas of leadership breakthrough, organizational strategy, organizational diagnosis, and innovation. Previously, he spent 31 years at IBM in a broad range of leadership, sales, entrepreneurial, and international roles.
Dr. Susan Davis
Dr. Susan E.M. Davis is the Program Chair for the College of Business at South University. Prior to joining the South University faculty in April, 2009, she served on faculties of Bethune Cookman University, Claflin University, Columbia College and the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Davis received a Ph.D. in Organization and Management with specializations in Leadership and Human Resource Management from Capella University, an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Economics from the University of Rochester, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Davis is a Sam Walton Fellow for Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and has published articles on innovation, leadership and change management from an entrepreneurial perspective. She is primarily interested in transformational leadership and teaches classes in organizational behavior, entrepreneurship, finance and strategic planning. In 1995, she designed the first of three centers focused on entrepreneurship in South Carolina. In addition to her university teaching experience, Dr. Davis has designed and delivered executive development programs for several corporations.
Prior to her career in higher education, Dr. Davis served as a senior financial executive for several Fortune 50 corporations including Whirlpool Corporation, Mellon National Bank and Eastman Kodak.
She is CEO and President of Strategic Business Solutions, a consulting firm established in 1998 that focuses on strategic planning and management of small to medium-sized businesses.
Mrs. Sheri Bias
Mrs. Bias is currently finishing her Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems with a concentration in Transformative Learning and Social Justice. She holds the following Master’s Degrees: an MBA from The College of William and Mary, an MA in Human Resources Development from The George Washington University, and an MA in Human and Organization Systems from The Fielding Graduate University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Administration from Saint Leo University. Prior to her experience in Education, Mrs. Bias worked in various human resources capacities at NASA Langley Research Center, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Anheuser Busch, Philip Morris USA, and HR Synergy.
Mrs. Bias holds the Senior Human Resources Professional (SPHR) certification. She is a life-long learner and has a passion for teaching.