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Diane Shines McDaniel, Ph.D. is a 2026 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

diane mcdaniel

Diane Shines McDaniel at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Betty Overton, Committee Chair, Dr. Rona Halualani, Committee Member, Dr. Woden Teachout, Committee Member.

Dissertation Committee

  • Betty Overton, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Woden Teachout, PhD, Committee Member
  • Rona Halualani, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

Chief Diversity Officers, diversity, equity, and inclusion, DEI strategic planning, hospital systems, phenomenological research, adaptive leadership theory

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study investigated the major challenges Chief Diversity Officers (CDOs) face when creating and implementing DEI strategy plans within major hospital systems in the United States. The study was guided by one research question: What are the major challenges that Chief Diversity Officers face in creating and implementing a DEI strategy plan within major U.S. hospital systems? A phenomenological design was used to examine the challenges of six Chief Diversity Officers serving in major U.S. hospitals as they led DEI strategy planning and implementation. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews consisting of eight open-ended questions designed to elicit detailed accounts of participant's professional leadership experiences in complex healthcare organizations. Analysis of the interview data yielded five interrelated themes: gaining buy-in, pushback and regression, ability to measure impact, need to employ varied strategies, and capturing a wide range of lessons. Collectively, these themes illuminate the organizational, structural, and cultural conditions that shape DEI leadership in hospital systems. The findings indicate that CDOs work within contexts shaped by competing priorities, uneven leadership commitment, resistance to systemic change, and persistent challenges in translating equity-centered goals into measurable and sustainable practice. The findings also suggest that Adaptive Leadership Theory provides the primary interpretive lens for understanding how CDOs navigate complexity, mobilize stakeholders, and sustain DEI strategy implementation. This study contributes to the growing scholarship on DEI leadership in healthcare by clarifying the organizational conditions that mediate DEI strategy planning and the adaptive leadership practices needed to sustain it. The findings have implications for executive leaders, hospital governing boards, and policymakers by underscoring the need for sustained institutional commitment, strategic alignment, and organizational accountability in advancing meaningful and enduring organizational change. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu.

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diane shines mcdaniel

Diane Shines McDaniel

ORCID Id:  #0009-0003-4714-0721

Diane Shines McDaniel, PhD, is an executive leader, scholar-practitioner, and consultant whose work brings together business, higher education, and healthcare to advance strategy, governance, culture, and organizational change.

Her dissertation publication reflects the integration of her executive leadership practice with scholarly inquiry into how organizations navigate change, build inclusive cultures, and strengthen governance in complex environments.

She has held senior leadership roles focused on strategy, governance, culture, and organizational change, including inaugural executive appointments in healthcare and higher education.

Her leadership foundation was shaped for more than 20 years at AT&T, where she led large services and support teams across marketing, call center operations, and network services. Across sectors, Diane brings deep experience in human resources, organizational leadership, change management, and complex workplace solutions, with a focus on building collaborative, adaptive, and inclusive organizational environments.

Diane earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Indiana University, a Master of Science in human resources development from Indiana State University, and a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 100 Diversity Officers in the United States by the National Diversity Council for her leadership and counsel in advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace.

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