Each year Leadership Studies doctoral program offers graduate assistantships for full time students. Graduate assistants are assigned various responsibilities ranging from undergraduate instruction, program administration, and assistance to individual
faculty members in research, teaching, and publishing activities. For further information on an assistantship with Leadership Studies, please contact the Dr. Patrick Pauken (paukenp@bgsu.edu)
or click on assistantship application form (pdf).
Bios of Graduate Assistants, 2009-2010
Mohammed Issah
Graduate Assistant
550 Education Building
missah@bgsu.edu
Research Interests:
Organizational development and policy
Leadership development and accountability
Social policy
Mohammed Issah obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture (Crop science option) in 1997 and a Master of Philosophy
in Agricultural Extension in 2001, both from the University of Ghana, Legon. Mohammed worked with Social Enterprise Development
Foundation of W/A now SEND-Ghana ( a non-governmental organization) as a public policy advocacy officer. His position also
involved grassroots mobilization through training and capacity building in resource poor communities across Ghana. In August
2008, Mohammed became a full time student in BGSU in order to pursue a Master’s in Cross-cultural and International Education,
and in August 2009 became a full time student in the doctoral program in Leadership studies. As a graduate assistant Mohammed
assist professors in research and outreach activities. Mohammed aspires to take up a position in higher education/ not-for-
profit organization, and or consulting.
Peter Mateso
Graduate Assistant
550 Education Building
pmateso@bgsu.edu
Research Interests:
Succession Planning and Management
Organizational Development and Policy
Leadership Development and Performance
Peter Mateso obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Architecture in 1988 (Kiev-Ukraine) and Licentiate degree in Regional
Science in 1993 (Universität Karlsruhe-Germany). Peter has served in the Department of Architecture of the University College of Lands and Architectural Studies
located in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Peter also served as the Zonal Director (Dar-es-Salaam) with the Vocational Education
and Training Authority, a semi-autonomous public agency responsible for vocational education in Tanzania. In August 2007,
Peter became a full-time graduate student of the BGSU in order to pursue a Doctor of Education degree in Leadership Studies
and a Master’s degree in Cross-cultural and International Education. As a graduate assistant at BGSU, Peter assists various
professors in research and administrative activities. With regard to his career aspiration, Peter is considering higher education,
a return to a leadership position in vocational education, and/or consulting.
Zippy Nyaga
Graduate Assistant
550 Education Building
znyaga@bgsu.edu
Research Interests:
Women Studies
Cultural Diversity
Leadership and Organizational Development
Zippy Nyaga earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Accounting, and an MBA degree
from the University of Nairobi in International Business Administration. Prior to entering the doctoral program in Leadership
Studies at BGSU, Zippy was a Partnership Development Associate for the foundation of National Institutes of Health (NIH),
worked with a team that sought to identify and develop innovative public-private partnerships involving industry, academia
and the philanthropic community. She also worked with economically disadvantaged women and girls in Washington, DC and Nairobi,
Kenya, enlightening them on their potential and helping them break away from the cycle of poverty. She is pursuing a career
in academia and consulting.
Brenda Oyer
Graduate Assistant
550 Education Building
oyerb@bgsu.edu
Research Interests:
Ethical Leadership
Service Learning
Leader Stress and Burn-Out
Moral and Spiritual Development
Brenda Oyer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Anderson University (Anderson, IN) in psychology and religion, and a Master
of Education degree from the University of Toledo in educational psychology. For over 20 years, Brenda has served in a variety
of capacities for organizations providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities, including Superintendent
of the Fulton County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) and Assistant Superintendent of the Williams
County Board of MR/DD. Most recently she coordinated a Partnerships for Success grant with the Fulton County Family & Children
First Council, and provided leadership to the Council's efforts to prevent and reduce underage drinking in Fulton County.
She also currently serves as a Board member of the RIDGE Project, a non-profit organization based in Defiance, Ohio. Brenda
is pursuing a career as a faculty member at a college or university and would like to consult with MR/DD Boards and non-profit
organizations on issues such as outcome measurement/program evaluation and strategic planning. She currently resides in Archbold,
Ohio.
Ruth Ann Petroff
Graduate Assistant
550 Education Building
rpetro@bgsu.edu
Research Interests:
Organizational Culture
Education Finance
Post-merger Acculturation
Ruth Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations with additional core coursework in accounting from the University
of Toledo and a Master’s of Organizational Leadership from Lourdes College. Prior to entering the doctoral program in Leadership
Studies at BGSU, Ruth Ann held positions in the financial services industry. Most recently, she was a financial analyst at
Huntington Insurance (formerly, Sky Insurance) and a loan operations department manager at Sky Bank. She also held positions
at Dana Commercial Credit, including investment analyst for the telecom product group, manager of shared services and finance
manager for the Business Processing Outsourcing product group. Her positions in banking also include Commercial Loan Operations
Manager, Small Business Lender, Commercial Loan Portfolio Manager and Senior Commercial Loan Credit Analyst. As a graduate
assistant, Ruth Ann is involved in research on school levy cost analyses. She is pursuing a career as a faculty member at
a college or university.
Marsha Sarver
Graduate Assistant
550 Education Building
sarverm@bgsu.edu
Research Interests:
Early Literacy
Educational Practices
Professional Development
School Leadership and Policy
Marsha obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Early and Middle Childhood Education from The Ohio State University in 1987,
with certification to teach kindergarten through eighth grades. She taught (grades K, 1 and 3) in Dublin city Schools in central
Ohio for over 16 years before relocating to northwest Ohio. She earned a Master of Education degree from Ashland University
in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught kindergarten at a private school in northwest Ohio and assisted them in gaining
state charter. She has had experience as a presenter and has done some freelance work with educational publishers. She has
worked with homeschooling families and as a school improvement consultant for public and private schools. After completing
her doctorate, Marsha would like to pursue a career in higher education or educational administration with an emphasis in
Curriculum and Instructional Improvement.
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