Dana Questad is a leading specialist on the art and science of navigating the human side of change. As an interdisciplinary educator, her work centers on helping learners activate and apply the knowledge and wisdom they already possess to circumstances which call for leadership, navigating transitions, and innovative solutions. Her pioneering research on executive leadership in V.U.C.A environments has increased leadership performance and reduced confusion among organizational leaders seeking to exercise leadership in volatility, and provided new insights into what constitutes effective behaviors patterns in times of crisis and chaos.

Dana is author and co-editor of the new book Holding Steady: Leadership During Volatility, published December 2024. She teaches change leadership at Gonzaga University’s School of Business Administration, serves as a student advisor, and has participated on a number of non- profit boards. In addition to her work on transition and change, Dana is well-versed in the psychology of grief and loss, trauma-informed care, supporting neurodivergent learners, and family systems theory.

Dana earned her Ph.D. in leadership studies, her masters degree in organizational leadership, and her bachelor’s in psychology from Gonzaga University. A lifelong learner, she continues her studies through Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Washington. Before graduate school, Dana spent fifteen years with the Nofsinger Group, a leading consultancy which supports executive leaders. Dana is a former D1 collegiate rower, coxswain, and juniors coach. When not leading change, you can find Dana traveling with her husband and four children.