The Leadership Communication doctoral program at Kansas State University celebrated the spring 2025 graduates in May. Xatyiswa Maqashalala, Ph.D., Tamas Kowalik, Ph.D., and Andrew Smith, Ph.D., have completed their doctorates in Leadership Communication, an interdisciplinary program between the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education, the Staley School of Leadership, and the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.
Xatyiswa Maqashalala, Ph.D., has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in agriculture, crops and horticulture from the University of Fort Hare (South Africa), a master’s in sustainable agriculture from the University of Free State (South Africa), a post graduate diploma in management from North-West University (South Africa), and a graduate certificate in conflict resolution from K-State.
Maqashalala’s dissertation, titled, Discourse and decolonization: Analyzing the impact of colonial history and culture on African leadership narratives, explored how colonial history and culture have shaped African leadership, while also examining how African traditions, philosophies, and values can inform the development of inclusive leadership models relevant to the African context. Focusing on South Africa, a nation with a history of colonialism and apartheid, the study analyzed the discourse of community leaders during the transition from apartheid to democracy.
“The Lead Comm program was an affirming experience for me. My professors didn’t just teach, they walked alongside me. Their constant support, openness to collaboration, and belief in my ideas gave me the confidence to grow into the scholar and teacher I am today.”
Tamas Kowalik, Ph.D., has a Bachelor’s of Arts in political science from Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences, a master’s in public administration from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a certificate in diplomacy from University of Leeds.
Kowalik’s dissertation, titled, Dependency on Authority and Exercising Leadership in Hungary, explored the relationship between authority, dependence on authority, and leadership within the specific Hungarian context. It aimed to address three scholarly challenges: situating authority in leadership theory, moving away from a leader-centric approach to focus on participants’ lived experiences at the micro-level, and transcending the “Western bias” by examining authority, dependence on authority, and leadership in an East-Central European context.
Kowalik is currently an assistant professor at Fort Hays State University, School of Criminal Justice, Leadership and Sociology.
“I arrived at K-State as a mid-career international student back in 2019, with a clear idea of my research goals but lacking the theoretical and methodological foundation to bring my plan to life. The Leadership Communication doctoral program equipped me with the knowledge and tools I needed, all within a welcoming, accommodating, and vibrant environment. I could not have chosen a better school to complete my studies.”
Andrew Smith, Ph.D., has a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree from Gonzaga University in communication and leadership.
Smith’s dissertation, titled, Investigating “The Chant”: Leadership-as-Practice and Social Capital-Bridging Influence on Members of a Complex Adaptive System, examined how the practices of group members influence collective action. His research found that the influence of high-profile leaders can be limited and that systems move and change based on the practices of the members of the system.
Smith is currently a professor of practice in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication, the director of Wildcat Electronic Media, the assistant director for News and Sports Media at the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication, the news director for KKSU-TV, and the chief operator of KSDB-FM.
“I’ve thoroughly loved my time in the Leadership Communication program. Community engaged scholarship is a natural outgrowth of social empathy and involvement which is very close to my heart. The values on which this program is built are inspiring and connective. I’m so grateful to be connected to this program and what it stands for.”
Applications for the Leadership Communication doctoral program for the spring 2026 academic cycle are currently being accepted. Learn more.
