Dissertation Defense Announcement Ph.D. in Higher Education Program: Judith Jarvis “Exploring Crisis Leadership in Higher Education Through an LGBTQIA Lens: A Case Study of Rutgers University’s Crisis Response to Tyler Clementi’s Death”

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

This case study on the crisis responses of Rutgers University administrators in the aftermath of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi’s death in 2010 seeks to deeply understand what happened and why in the pre-crisis, crisis, post-crisis phases. By delving into the motivations, challenges, decisions, and communications of administrators close to the crisis as well as analyzing university statements and local, regional, and national news coverage of Clementi’s death, this study offers a more nuanced and detailed understanding of the crisis than in previous media and scholarly accounts, and uniquely provides analysis of the case through an LGBTQIA lens. Analysis of both archival materials and interviews with 16 narrators who had a role in crisis response revealed 27 key findings from the case. The case showed alignment with and support for existing crisis resilience and the discourse of renewal theories, but also indicated a gap in existing crisis leadership scholarship in that it does not account for the impact of social identity in crisis response efficacy. Based on learnings from this case study, I introduce a new “queer lens framework” that can contribute to more effective crisis leadership and responses for marginalized student groups in higher education.

To access the Zoom link required to attend, please contact academic.services@gse.rutgers.edu.