Our Work
Women Honoring Other Women (WHOW) Convenes February 16- 19, 2023
A Gathering of Women in Education: Cultivating Hope & Equity
An annual summit hosted in person, focused on leadership for women who have been, currently are, or aspire to be in higher education leadership positions in post-secondary education. Work with transformational faculty mentors and leaders in North America.
Authentic Transformative Leadership
With no roadmap to follow, developing the ability to lead every day from your authentic self sustains us by building on the things we do naturally well. Utilizing a strengths-based approach and positive ways of developing abilities to be transformative in our relationships, work, climate, and professional development. Working with women from many backgrounds and professions, we empower through resilience, inclusion, and value-based performance to bring out your positive self, eliminate "imposter syndrome" and elevate self-value and worth. Studies of women's epistemology have broadly discussed that women tend to be connected knowers, who base their knowing on relationships and experiences. (Belenky et al., 1986) We build on the connection and support with, as, and for women who choose to be transformative leaders.
Navigating the Journey as Leaders through Strategic Planning, Appreciative Coaching, and Mentoring
Kiona - Oxendine & Associates is a group of consultants that work with leaders, institutions, and organizations focusing on inclusion of all people in an equitable approach utilizing Critical Appreciative Inquiry. We can assist you with strategic planning and development, team building, mentoring, coaching, and friendship. "It is the power of Appreciative Inquiry that surrounds hope, despair, and forgiveness and creates the notion of appreciative resilience." (Jeanie Cockell and Joan McArthur - Blair, In their book Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry 2018) . Create future-ready and future healthy post-secondary organizations!
The image to the left was taken by Martin Schoeller for Vanity Fair. THE NEW WOMEN SENATORS SWORN IN TO THE 116TH CONGRESS, 1/3/19.
Women Honoring Other Women - Online Conversations
We uplift, support, and foster the leadership of women academics. WHOW (women honoring other women) is a group of volunteer academics committed to creating powerful and generative conversations and learning opportunities for women academics from around the world. We create short highly interactive sessions with women academics from diverse backgrounds on various topics and each year brings women, academic leaders, together for an appreciative leadership gathering. We are committed to the use of appreciative inquiry and strengths-based engagements that uplift women; inspire positive leadership and support generative leadership. WHOW is housed at and supported by Kiona-Oxendine & Associates.
The Associates
Symphony Dawn Oxendine, Ph.D.
Symphony Dawn Oxendine, Ph.D.
Symphony Dawn Oxendine, Ph.D.
Dr, Oxendine (Cherokee/Choctaw) is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Symphony worked in Student Affairs for 6 years before pursuing her doctorate. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in Higher Education and
Dr, Oxendine (Cherokee/Choctaw) is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Symphony worked in Student Affairs for 6 years before pursuing her doctorate. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in Higher Education and a doctoral minor in Educational Research Methodology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received her B.A. from Oklahoma State University in Applied Sociology.
Her research includes critical awareness of the social and institutional issues that affect the educational performance and institutional support of American Indians and other underrepresented groups, graduate preparation programs, cultural identity development, Historically Native American Fraternities and Sororities, student involvement and its impact on retention, leadership development, policy, and political processes within post-secondary education institutions. Symphony became a practitioner in Appreciative Inquiry in 2014 and is committed to increased inclusion of women, and underrepresented leadership in the academy.
Denise Henning, Ph.D.
Symphony Dawn Oxendine, Ph.D.
Symphony Dawn Oxendine, Ph.D.
Dr. Henning (Cherokee/Choctaw) has had numerous roles in her 20 years in higher education: President, wife, scholar, mother, researcher, grandmother, vice-president academic & research, But, no matter what role she finds herself, she approaches it with passion, energy, and positivity. Denise holds degrees in public administration, Nati
Dr. Henning (Cherokee/Choctaw) has had numerous roles in her 20 years in higher education: President, wife, scholar, mother, researcher, grandmother, vice-president academic & research, But, no matter what role she finds herself, she approaches it with passion, energy, and positivity. Denise holds degrees in public administration, Native American studies, completing her Bachelor and Master of science degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha; she also holds a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from New Mexico State University. As a faculty and experienced executive, Dr. Henning has worked with professionals and aspiring academicians to become strong - positive leaders. Her philosophy is focused on fostering an environment of shared leadership using an appreciative framework at its core. She has a reputation as a leader that cultivates positive teams and energizing people to be at their best using strengths-based approaches. Throughout her career, Dr. Henning has served as faculty and mentor in multiple leadership development institutes and is committed to making the academic environment a more positive and inspiring environment that is 'future focused and future ready.'
Resources
International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry. https://aipractitioner.com/
Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness is now available from your favorite bookseller or from Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Cockell McArthur-Blair podcasts on Resilience:with Robyn Stratton-Berkessel from Positivity Strategist, Building Leadership Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry – PS92.
Appreciative Inquiry In Higher Education: A transformative Force. People are saying…”a magical book for applying appreciative inquiry;” “a must read text for administrators, faculty, staff and students in higher education;” “inspires those of us in the field.”
Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry . https://www.champlain.edu/appreciativeinquiry
Appreciative Inquiry in a Pandemic: An Improbable Pairing. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0021886320936265