Meet the Researchers in the Human Capital Lab

Michelle Eppler, Ed.D.

Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and the Human Capital Lab, Bellevue University

Dr. Michelle Kempke Eppler was appointed Executive Director of the Human Capital Lab in January, 2018. She also serves as the founding Dean of the College of Continuing and Professional Education at Bellevue University. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, much of it devoted to expertise in teaching adult learners. Her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri. As Director of the Human Capital Lab, she is working to expand the scope and depth of research studies on the impact of learning on workforce effectiveness and personal success and fulfillment.

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David Vance

Executive Director, Center for Talent Reporting

David Vance is the Executive Director of the Center for Talent Reporting, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation and implementation of standards for human capital measurement, reporting, and management. A frequent speaker at learning conferences and association meetings, David teaches in the Ph.D. programs at Bellevue University and the University of Southern Mississippi and was named 2006 Chief Learning Officer (CLO) of the Year by Chief Learning Officer magazine. He received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from M.I.T., a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Indiana University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

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Paul Poppler, Ph.D.

Senior Research Associate, Bellevue University’s Human Capital Lab

Dr. Poppler is a Professor in the College of Business at Bellevue University. He has contributed to the development of a number of Bellevue University’s programs, including the Ph.D. in Human Capital Management. Dr. Poppler has received numerous awards including Outstanding Reviewer in Management Education from the Academy of Management. He has presented at several management conferences and authored several papers on the topics of Behavorial and Applied Management. Dr. Poppler earned his master’s degree in Industrial and Personnel Relations from the University of Minnesota, and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

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Carolyn M. Youssef, Ph.D.

Senior Research Associate, Bellevue University’s Human Capital Lab

Carolyn Youssef, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the College of Business at Bellevue University and a Research Associate of Bellevue University’s Human Capital Lab. Her research focus is on positivity in the workplace.

Dr. Youssef headed training and human resource development at the Egyptian subsidiary of Thomas Cook, a tourism and financial services multinational with operations in more than 15 countries. She has held various teaching, executive training, and research positions at the American University in Cairo, USAID, Unilever, Shell, and the Natural Resources Institute.

Dr. Youssef has published numerous journal articles and book chapters in this area, and helped various organizations develop positivity in their managers and employees. She is the co-author of “Psychological Capital: Developing the Human Competitive Edge” [Oxford University Press, 2007], and serves on the editorial board for The Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies and the Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management.

Dr. Youssef earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and her MBA from American University in Cairo, Egypt. She earned her Ph.D. in Management from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

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Dave Gregory

President & Chief Executive Officer, Conatus3 Inc.

Dave’s passion is helping organizations acquire the data they need to make the best possible people development decisions. He believes identifying the “right fit” candidate, developing employees to their full potential, and building a culture where employees are valued creates positive behavior changes and improves results. Using the most advanced scientific tools available, Dave is committed to measuring the impact of learning through application and implementation practices applied through the Human Capital Lab.

During his 30+ years of experience, Dave served as Global Vice President of Alorica’s Human Resources Organizational Performance team where his teams supported the world’s most valuable brands, more than 100,000 employees and staff across 150 sites in 16 countries. Dave’s responsibilities included strategy development for talent planning, talent acquisition, performance management, leadership development, succession planning, and employee life cycle processes. His background in global business process outsourcing and customer experience management allow him to assist a wide variety of clients in strategic planning, business process development, and execution to ensure exceptional customer (external AND internal) experiences.

In addition to years of experience, Dave received his formal education at Creighton University’s School of Law where he earned a Juris Doctor. His Bachelor of Science in Business Administration was conferred by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dave serves as a member of the Bellevue University College of Business Advisory Board, as an Adjunct Professor for the College of Continuing and Professional Education, and a member of the Human Capital Lab.

Dave and his wife, Renee, reside in Papillion, Nebraska. Both of their daughters, Katy Brown and Nicole Overkamp, are graduates of Bellevue University.

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