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| Cheryl Lower, Donna Mellen, and Stephanie Tickner, Editors | Summer 2007 |
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Interview with New OD Program Faculty,
Pat Bidol-Padva, PhD
Pat Bidol-Padva, PhD
Core Faculty
Pat Bidol-Padva, Ph.D., joins the faculty of the Antioch University New England Organization Development (OD) Certificate program that begins in September, 2007. Pat has over twenty-five years of experience in providing organization change and collaborative conflict management services and working with graduate programs. She has been adjunct faculty for the American University-NTL Masters in OD program and Dean of the National Education Association and NTL Institute OD Certificate program. I had the opportunity to talk with Pat about her career, the future of OD, and her interest in the Antioch OD program.
How did you begin your OD career?
My first experiences that shaped the values which are my foundation for my OD practice included picketing with Martin Luther King in the 1960’s. In 1967 I provided racism awareness training in the Detroit community through funding provided by New Perspectives on Race. In 1968-69 I worked with Ron Lippett who created a PhD program at the University of Michigan that focused on change at the community, group, and interpersonal levels.
In the mid ’70’s I served as school superintendent in Balwin/Idelwild, Michigan. During my two-year period in this post, one of my primary goals was to effectively integrate separate black and white school districts that were merged. This was a challenging opportunity where I learned a great deal about people's beliefs and the need to be strong and clear about my own beliefs.
In the early ’80’s I created an urban campus in Chicago for the National College of Education. The purpose of this program was to develop change skills for teachers and counselors in the Chicago school system.
From the mid-1970’s to mid 1980’s I co-created and taught in a doctoral program in organizational and community change with Dr. Jim Crowfoot. The focus of this program was on mediation and resolving complex, multi-party issues.
Whom do you consider to be your mentor?
The many NTL members and colleagues that I have worked with over the years, and, of course, Ron Lippett. (Note: Ron Lippett was professor emeritus at the University of Michigan and a co-founder of NTL Insitute in 1947. He was co-developer of the concept of group dynamics with Kurt Lewin.)
What do you find most intriguing, challenging and rewarding about OD work?
Among the most intriguing issues is how to take our OD practitioner theories and practices into a different culture and how to modify what we do to meet different cultural expectations. I have found our theory does work in all levels in all cultures, particularly to produce wise options for those we work with. Among the challenges we as practitioners face, and the profession faces, is to realize OD practitioners, change agents, and leaders are all connected to each other. It is important to realize that OD is always relevant and not to worry what we call ourselves; what matters is to concern ourselves with producing results.
What interests you about the Antioch OD Certificate program?
This program produces scholar-practitioners who can make a good living doing both process and content work. This includes the ability to do effective content work, such as effective strategic planning, as well as using effective process tools, which are the traditional domain of OD theory and practice.
Pat lives in Boca Raton, Florida. When she is not working, her interests include quilting, creating art dolls, hiking, reading and travel. For more information on Pat and the OD Certificate program, please visit www.antiochne.edu/om/odcert.
© 2007 Antioch University New England, 40 Avon Street, Keene, NH 03431-3516 800.553.8920