Dr. Candice Lucas-Bledsoe is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of leadership and innovation.  She is the Global Chief Executive Officer of the Action Research Center in Dallas, Texas. She also holds appointments at Penn State University, the Cox School of Business and Hunt Institute of Humanity in the Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University.Prior to joining the Action Research Center, Dr. Bledsoe served as a Professor for the Yonok University in Lampang, Thailand. She has also led international initiatives in organizations suchas, Bank of Thailand, Bain & Company, Microsoft, Qatar University, Hong Kong University Science and Technology, and Aba Dhabi Department of Education and Council (ADEC).  The United Nations honored Dr. Bledsoe with the UN Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Goal 4: Quality Education in 2020 for her tireless efforts to increase access to education and school enrollment rates at all levels, particularly for girls.  She is the recipient of the 2013 SMU Women’s Symposium Profiles of Community Leadership Award.  Dr. Bledsoe has published many articles and received numerous fellowships including: The National Endowment of the Humanities, the New Leadership Academy, National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan, and Boone Texas Project for Human Rights Education.  Dr. Bledsoe received her Doctorate in Education from The University of Southern California. Dr. Bledsoe also holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and Baylor University.