Team

Karen E. Linkletter, Ph.D.

Research Director

Karen is the Research Director of the Management as a Liberal Art Research Institute.  She and Dr. Joseph A. Maciariello co-authored the book Drucker’s Lost Art of Management: Peter Drucker’s Timeless Vision for Building Effective Organizations. Dr. Linkletter has published over 20 articles and essays.  Her most recent article is "Leadership Character:  A Holistic Approach."  Dr. Linkletter taught in the American Studies Department at California State University, Fullerton for 15 years.  She teaches a course on Drucker and Management as a Liberal Art at CiAM.   She is also a professional cellist, performing throughout southern California and teaching private students.   She has an upcoming book, Peter Drucker and Management (Routledge), which will be available in June of 2024.

Robert Kirkland, Ph.D.

Associate Researcher/Program Coordinator

Rob is the program coordinator and contributes to the research effort at MLARI.  He is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and served as the head of Army ROTC at USC and Claremont McKenna College. He has a PhD in history from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the U.S. Air War College.

Byron Ramirez, Ph.D.

Senior Researcher

Byron is an applied economist with management consulting experience and a background in quantitative research and data analytics.  Byron has worked with SMEs (small and medium enterprises), startups, and entrepreneurs to help improve their market positioning, competitiveness, and value creation.  He has experience conducting market research, competitor analysis, industry analysis, forecasting, and policy analysis.  Byron completed a master’s degree in management and strategy at the Drucker School, a master’s degree in economics and international relations at American University, and a Ph.D. degree in economics and political science at Claremont Graduate University. His research is centered around human capital, management, organizational performance, and development.

Michael Cortrite, Ph.D.

Researcher

Mike is a graduate of UCLA with a Doctor of Education in Leadership degree. He is a leadership coach and has been practicing and teaching leadership for over 30 years. His work experience is 30 years of supervising and managing various units in a municipal police department. As a researcher for the Management as Liberal Art Research Institute, Dr. Cortrite performs research leading to publications in the filed of leadership.  His teaching experience includes being a docent and facilitator at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, and professor at Santa Monica College, California State University, Northridge, and California Institute of Advanced Management.

Pooya Tabesh, Ph.D.

Associate Researcher

Pooya collaborates with MLARI as a researcher. He is an assistant professor of management at Cal State LA where his teaching and research focuses on strategic and behavioral aspects of decision-making processes. Early in his career, Pooya worked as a quality control engineer for a manufacturing firm and as a project controller for a business consulting office.

Carol Mendenall, Ph.D.

Associate Researcher

Carol started teaching Ethical Leadership for CiAM in 2018. She is also a Program Lead and Instructor for TK-12 virtual program for a nearby public school after spending 24 years in the classroom in person.   This gives her a unique educational perspective. Other areas of experience include operating her business, TNK Tackle as an evolution of The Notch Knocker, first created in 1998. This unique sporting goods business for period archery has changed into a fishing tackle online store, with tackle dispersed in local stores as well, serving clients in ten states.