Faculty & Staff Directory

Biography

Dr. Heidi R. Ventura serves as Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies in the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Trevecca Nazarene University. In this role, Dr. Ventura provides leadership for the administrators, faculty, curricula, and academic oversight for doctoral programs delivered both face-to-face and online. Dr. Ventura holds the Ph.D. degree in Organizational Leadership from Regent University as well as a MBA and B.Mus. from Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Dr. Ventura holds faculty rank as Associate Professor of Leadership Studies and has taught and/or developed courses in business, leadership, research, management, and interdisciplinary studies. Her research interests include higher education, accreditation, adult learner experience, faculty engagement, accountability, authentic leadership, and Biblical exegetical study of leadership theory and praxis. Dr. Ventura has presented at conferences for the following academic organizations: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, North Central Association Higher Learning Commission, Center for Research in Adult Learning, Christian Adult Higher Education Association, and the Conclave for Leadership Research & Analysis. She has served on the Ohio Board of Regent's Prior Learning Assessment Working Group and the Association for Biblical Higher Education Standards for Accreditation Review Task Force. Dr. Ventura was a 2010 Fellow in Indiana Wesleyan University's Leadership Development for Women initiative and was honored as the 2010 Administrator of the Year at Ohio Christian University.

Prior to stepping into her current role, Dr. Ventura served two years as Associate Vice President and Dean for the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Trevecca and five years as Assistant Vice President and Dean for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Ohio Christian University. Prior to that, she served in roles in the areas of Institutional Effectiveness, Provost's Office, and President's Office at Ohio Christian University and Palm Beach Atlantic University. Throughout her career, Dr. Ventura has had the distinction of having been the first individual to hold every position in which she has served.

Research Interests