UAGC faculty member to present leadership research at ILA conference

By AI, Created 1:31 AM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – University of Arizona Global Campus professor Patricia A. Ryan will present research on leadership, legitimacy and institutional narcissism at the International Leadership Association’s 2026 Global Conference in Toronto. The talk spotlights how leadership behavior can shape accountability and governance inside organizations and public systems.

Why it matters: - Ryan’s research focuses on how leadership choices can affect legitimacy, accountability and trust inside institutions. - The work connects academic leadership studies with real-world questions about governance, ethics and power. - The presentation also reflects UAGC’s emphasis on preparing students for complex leadership environments.

What happened: - Patricia A. Ryan, a UAGC professor and program chair in the Department of Leadership Studies, will present at the International Leadership Association’s 28th Global Conference. - The conference runs Oct. 28–31, 2026, in Toronto, Canada. - Ryan’s presentation is titled, “Rule of Law or Rule by Law? Leadership, Legitimacy, and the Rise of Institutional Narcissism.” - The ILA accepted the presentation after a three-stage peer review process that included anonymous review, stream lead review and final program selection.

The details: - The conference will bring together scholars, practitioners and organizational leaders from around the world. - The 2026 theme is “Leadership in a Complex World: Innovations, Ethics, and Regeneration.” - Ryan is a member of the ILA’s Leadership for Public Service and Leadership for Peace communities. - Ryan’s panel examines how leadership behavior and institutional dynamics can shape organizations, governments and governance systems over time. - Her research argues that leaders who see criticism as a threat, equate authority with personal legitimacy or treat legal constraints as obstacles can normalize self-protection, loyalty over accountability and rule manipulation. - Ryan said leadership is not only about influence and authority, but also responsibility, accountability and ethical decision-making. - Ryan said the conversations help students evaluate leadership practices and prepare to lead responsibly in complex environments. - The presentation draws in part from Ryan’s work developing and teaching UAGC’s Dark Side of Leadership course. - The course asks students to examine ethical leadership, organizational behavior, power dynamics and the long-term consequences of leadership decisions. - One student called the course “one of the most intellectually challenging and rewarding experiences” in the academic program. - Another student said the course provided “deep insight into human motivation and the psychological drivers behind unethical behavior.” - Blake Naughton, UAGC vice provost of Global Campus Academic Affairs, said Ryan’s conference participation reflects the strength of the faculty’s scholarship and the relevance of the university’s leadership programs. - Ryan serves in UAGC’s College of Integrative Learning, Division of Advanced Studies, Department of Leadership Studies. - Ryan has more than 20 years of academic leadership experience. - Ryan previously held leadership roles in Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies across banking, marketing, finance, insurance, technology and government. - The International Leadership Association is a global network focused on advancing leadership knowledge and practice through scholarship, dialogue and professional collaboration.

Between the lines: - The presentation gives UAGC a public platform in a scholarly forum focused on ethics and leadership legitimacy. - The topic signals continued academic attention to how institutions can drift toward self-protection and weakened accountability. - The student feedback suggests UAGC is using the course content to position leadership education as both practical and ethically focused.

What’s next: - Ryan is scheduled to present the research during the Toronto conference in late October 2026. - The conference will likely generate additional discussion among leadership scholars and practitioners on ethics, accountability and institutional trust. - UAGC may continue to highlight faculty research and applied leadership coursework as part of its academic profile.