Justin F. Willett | Novak Leadership Institute, University of Missouri

About Me

I am research director at the Novak Leadership Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism. My research examines how leadership communication shapes workplace culture and enhances employee engagement and well-being. I also investigate narrative persuasion mechanisms in health communication, exploring how storytelling influences health attitudes and behaviors. I teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels, while mentoring students in their academic and professional development.

Research

Willett, J. F., LaGree, D., Warner, B. R., Houston, J. B., & Duffy, M. (2024). Flourishing with flexibility: Leader communicative support of flexible work arrangements (FWA) enhances employee engagement and well-being. International Journal of Business Communication. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/23294884241291531

Willett, J. F., Rodgers S., Stemmle, J. (2024). Seeking the public health angle in Missouri newspaper coverage of the opioid crisis. Newspaper Research Journal, 45(3), 311-331. https://doi.org/10.1177/07395329241255158

Zhang, W., Tsou, T. H., Rodgers, S., & Willett, J. F. (2024). Comparing Personalization Strategies in Social Network Advertising: The Role of Impression Motivation in Persuasion Outcomes. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 24(3), 247–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/15252019.2024.2337057

Willett, J. F., LaGree, D., Shin, H., Houston, J. B., & Duffy, M. (2023). The role of leader communication in fostering respectful workplace culture and increasing employee engagement and well-being. International Journal of Business Communication. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/23294884231195614

See my publications on Google Scholar.

In The Media

Knight, R. (2025, August 18). Building Employee Buy-In for Strategic Change. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2025/08/building-employee-buy-in-for-strategic-change

Diedrich, S. (2025, January 16). Thriving with flexibility. Show Me Mizzou. https://showme.missouri.edu/2025/thriving-with-flexibility/

McCuien, P. (2023, October 17). How leaders communicate with employees sets the tone for a respectful workplace culture. Show Me Mizzou. https://showme.missouri.edu/2023/how-leaders-communicate-with-employees-sets-the-tone-for-a-respectful-workplace-culture/

Teaching

Journalism 4242W/7242W: Strategic Communication Leadership (3 Credit Hours)
Strategic communication leadership course focused on marketing, multi-media storytelling, advertising, and social platforms. Students learn practical strategies to lead teams and develop positive relationships in organizations. (Writing intensive course)

Health Administration 8470: Strategic Planning and Marketing for Health Care Organizations (3 Credit Hours)
Analysis of strategic planning, services management, and marketing concepts in healthcare. Covers environment analysis, organizational assessment, and implementing strategy through service management and marketing.

Certifications: Online Teaching, Inclusive Teaching, Writing Intensive (WI)

Professional Experience

I have over 20 years of professional experience spanning journalism, healthcare communications, and academic leadership.

Novak Leadership Institute, University of Missouri, 2022-present

Research Director, 2025-present
Lead the institute’s leadership research agenda, focusing on how leadership communication shapes workplace culture and enhances employee engagement and well-being.

Program Director, 2022-2025
Directed leadership development programming while contributing to institute’s research initiatives.

University of Missouri Health Care and School of Medicine, 2015-2022

Led strategic health communications and managed COVID-19 communication response that increased website engagement by nearly 1200% in 2021.

Journalism, 2001-2014

Newspaper reporter and editor at publications in Missouri and North Carolina, developing storytelling expertise that now informs my narrative persuasion research.

Areas of Expertise

Leadership and organizational communication
Health communication and narrative persuasion
Strategic communication research and application
Student mentorship and academic development
Digital content strategy and development
Journalistic storytelling and reporting

Education

Ph.D. in Journalism (2025)
Strategic Communication
School of Journalism, University of Missouri

Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) (2021)
School of Medicine, University of Missouri

Bachelor of Journalism (B.J.) (2001)
School of Journalism, University of Missouri