Empire State University’s Alan Belasen Named a SUNY Distinguished Professor

When Professor Alan Belasen first began teaching at Empire State University in 1994, it marked a “significant milestone” in his career, he says. Now, more than 30 years later, the longtime business, management, and leadership educator is celebrating another professional landmark: being named a SUNY Distinguished Professor, the highest academic rank conferred by the SUNY Board of Trustees.  

Bestowed upon Belasen this spring, the title is awarded to faculty who have “achieved national or international prominence and a distinguished reputation within [their] chosen field through significant contributions to research and scholarship,” according to SUNY. With this promotion, the College of Business (COB) professor becomes the fourth current SUNY Empire faculty member to be inducted into the Distinguished Academy. 

For Belasen, a widely published author of books, journal articles, and conference papers, the honor is more than a personal achievement; it’s a “recognition of Empire State University itself, an institution that has long been a leader in innovative approaches to adult learning, competency-based education, and student-centered teaching,” he says. “Throughout my academic career, Empire has provided an environment that encourages faculty scholarship and serves as an incubator for new learning modalities informed by research and high-impact scholarly work.” 

Belasen’s own research has taken on various subjects over the years. Guided by an approach that is “fundamentally interdisciplinary and applied in nature,” he says, he has explored numerous interconnected topics under the larger umbrella of leadership, communication, and organizational effectiveness. His wide-ranging areas of focus include everything from resilience in healthcare leadership and decision-making under pressure to equity and bias in professional sports and the impact of AI on leadership practices.  

“The evolution of my research agenda has been shaped by a combination of intellectual curiosity, appreciative inquiry, impactful events, and collaborative opportunities,” Belasen explains. 

The latter is evident in projects like his recently published book, “Disruptive Leadership: Breaking the Mold, Outlasting the Competition,” which—in addition to two chapters co-authored with COB Dean Julie Gedro—features contributions from scholars based at universities around the world. Collaboration is also central to his new book project, “Blended Leadership: Managing the Hybrid Organization,” a joint venture developed with Assistant Professor Thomas Wiese. 

Belasen notes that his appointment to SUNY Distinguished Professor has provided him a chance to contemplate partnerships like these. 

“The recognition offered an opportunity to reflect on the many colleagues, mentors, and collaborators who have contributed to my scholarly development,” he says. “At the same time, it reaffirms my commitment to advancing knowledge, inspiring others, and contributing to the academic community with renewed purpose.”