Graziadio Professor Darren Good Receives Ascendant Scholar Award

Darren Good, assistant professor of applied behavioral science at the Graziadio School of Business and Management, received the Ascendant Scholar award for his research on individual adaptability and mindfulness from the Western Academy of Management, a nonprofit regional division of the National Academy of Management. Good accepted his award at the academy’s annual meeting in Napa Valley, California, in March.

The prestigious annual award recognizes exceptional researchers who are no more than seven years out from their PhD program and on track to be leaders in their respective fields. Since the Western Academy of Management introduced the award in 1982, many of the management field’s most prominent scholars have been recognized as Ascendant Scholars during their early careers.

“Darren Good joined the faculty at the Graziadio School in 2012 and in a very short time he has distinguished himself both in the classroom and as one of our most gifted and committed researchers,” said Ann Feyerherm, professor and chair of the applied behavioral science and organization theory and management department. “His scholarship sheds new light on the development of human and organizational potential. With the Ascendant Scholar award, Darren demonstrates that his own potential is a credit to this field of study and Pepperdine.”

Good’s research focuses on the skills and abilities that support individuals in adapting within complex and dynamic environments. He has recently published in the Journal of Psychology,Journal of Management and Organization, andJournal of Applied Behavioral Science, among others. Good holds a PhD in organizational behavior from Case Western Reserve University, an MA in psychology from Pepperdine University, and a BA in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I am honored to receive this award which has been granted in the past to such significant and impactful scholars, and to be included with former honorees from Graziadio, Kevin Groves and Kurt Motamedi,” said Good. “Many past awardees have come from big research universities like USC, Stanford, and UCLA. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues at the Graziadio School and the opportunity to contribute to advancing high- caliber applied research at Pepperdine.”