James Whittington (J.Lee), PhD

Teaching Areas

• Leadership & Followership
• Organizational Behavior
• Spiritual Dimensions of Leadership, Organizations, and Work

Teaching Philosophy or Approach

I am intentionally intentional about helping my students discover and live into their unique God-given design.

Research Interests and Expertise

1. The Full-Range Model of Leadership (transactional and transformational leadership) and the various substitutes for leadership that moderate the impact of these leadership behaviors on individual and team attitudes and behaviors.
2. The Antecedents and Consequences of Employee Engagement.
3. Biblical Perspectives on Leadership, Organizations, and Work

Awards and Honors

• King Fellow, University of Dallas, 2021
• Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year, Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business, 2019
• Gupta College of Business Innovation Award, 2017
• Haggerty Teaching Excellence Award, University of Dallas, 2011
• Outstanding Commitment to Research, College of Business, University of Dallas, 2010
• OB/HR Distinguished Scholar, Southwestern Academy of Management, 2010.
• Selected as Honorary Member of the Guardians of the Golden Shears, Texas Wesleyan University, December 1999
• Outstanding Graduate Professor Award, School of Business, Texas Wesleyan University, 1998-1999
• Heads Above the Crowd Award, Texas Wesleyan University, 1998-1999
• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Management 1995-1996, University of Texas at Arlington
• Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher, College of Business Administration 1993-1994, University of Texas at Arlington
• Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher, College of Business Administration 1989-1990, University of Texas at Arlington
• Nominated for Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching 1987-1988, University of Texas at Arlington

Professional Engagement and Impact

J. Lee’s industry experience includes over twenty years in manufacturing and distribution. He has held executive positions in marketing, logistics, and general management. He has consulted with over 90 organizations across 12 different industries. He maintains an active consulting practice that includes executive coaching and leadership development engagements with Life.Church, Great Co-Ops, Fidelity Investments, Nokia, FedEx-Kinko’s, RadioShack, Siemens, Penson Financial Services, Vendor Resource Management, Reynolds Metals, Ball Container, Valor Telecom, City of Arlington, City of Southlake, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Personal Statement

I have been blessed to have several people who took a personal interest in me, who saw something in me that I wasn’t aware of, and they intentionally invested in me. I have tried every way possible to thank them. However, no expressions of gratitude seemed sufficient. Therefore, I decided that the best way to thank these “investors” is to pay it forward by intentionally investing in others. I want to be to others what these investing mentors were to me. I want to be known as a Christ-follower who is EKG: Encouraging, Kind, and Generous. I want my students and those I coach/mentor to discover and live into their unique God-given design.

Hobbies and Community Involvement.

I live an exceeding abundant life with My wife Laura, our children and grandchildren. Laura and I love to travel together. And we love hosting the weekly high school football team dinners during the season.