Streaming Media

Images

Sarah Seiler, Ph.D. is a 2025 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Sarah Seiler at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Mitch Kusy, Committee Chair, Dr. Beth Mabry, Committee Member, Dr. Scott Hammond, Committee Member (not pictured)

Dissertation Committee

  • Mitch Kusy, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Beth Mabry, PhD, Committee Member
  • Scott Hammond, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

psychological safety, organizational belonging, belonging, team learning behavior, volunteer wilderness search and rescue, SAR, gender, mixed methods, phenomenology, high reliability teams, high reliability organizations, volunteer, leadership

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Wilderness search and rescue (SAR) volunteers and teams are essential for the safety of outdoor adventurers, and yet, organizational culture has not been studied closely within this population. While extensive research is available regarding psychological safety in corporate and healthcare environments, the role of psychological safety in high reliability teams, like wilderness SAR, is limited. Organizational belonging is a burgeoning research area that has yet to be explored in wilderness SAR. This mixed methods phenomenological study increased the understanding of the experience of psychological safety and organizational belonging in wilderness SAR volunteers. Initial quantitative statistical analysis that utilized t-tests, correlation analyses, and analysis of variances identified statistically significant results in the experience of psychological safety and organizational belonging for women and men. The relationship between team learning behavior and psychological safety is partially mediated by organizational belonging. Key principles for guiding the growth of psychological safety and organizational belonging as well as specific recommendations for activities and behaviors were provided by the participants’ own voices. This research can be used as a template to build and maintain psychological safety and organizational belonging for teams. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Comments

Sarah Seiler

ORCID: #0009-0008-8933-6083

Sarah H. Seiler, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, is a graduate of Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership and Change program. She brings more than three decades of experience in high-reliability environments, including trauma and critical care nursing, disaster preparedness, emergency services, organ donation, fire service, and wilderness search and rescue. Her work has consistently focused on leading complex systems and multidisciplinary teams in high-stakes settings, with a commitment to safety, collaboration, and human-centered leadership.

Dr. Seiler’s dissertation, grounded in her direct experience as both a leader and team member, explored psychological safety and organizational belonging within volunteer wilderness search and rescue (VWSAR) teams. Using a mixed-methods approach, her research examined how gender, team structures, orientation practices, and leadership influence these critical dimensions of team culture. Her findings offer practical guidance for enhancing learning, trust, and retention in organizations operating in unpredictable, high-risk environments.

Throughout her career, Dr. Seiler has led significant quality and operational advancements—most recently as Chief Clinical Officer of LifeShare Carolinas, where she oversaw system-wide innovations in donor care, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement. Her leadership roles also include regional disaster preparedness coordination, the development of national and international medical training curricula, and executive coaching. She has led multi-agency coalitions, designed simulation-based training programs, and supported critical infrastructure during large-scale events, including the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Dr. Seiler’s educational background reflects a lifelong commitment to interdisciplinary learning and service. In addition to earning her PhD, she holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus in healthcare from Marylhurst University and a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in emergency nursing and disaster preparedness from Adelphi University. Her foundational training includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Paramedic certification from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with undergraduate studies in psychology at Antioch College. This diverse educational foundation supports her ability to lead, coach, and conduct research across complex systems and high-reliability environments.

Sarah’s professional and scholarly endeavors are driven by a central passion: creating environments where individuals and teams are empowered to thrive. Whether leading in crisis, coaching teams through transformation, or contributing to the academic understanding of leadership and change, her work is rooted in the belief that belonging and voice are essential for growth, resilience, and sustainable impact.

Download

Share

COinS