Dr. Donald K. Egle is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and author in the higher education, business, brand marketing, and organizational leadership sectors. Egle’s proven and successful track record of cultivating the unique and powerful interchange between brand and organizational promises spans over two and a half decades. This work focuses on advancing, positioning, protecting, and defending organizational brands in the marketplace and building creative and influential teams of brand professionals. Currently, Egle serves as the Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, & Communications and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for LeTourneau University: the Christian Polytechnic University. At LeTourneau University, Egle leads a dynamic and award-winning team of enrollment, brand marketing, and communications professionals. Together, they steward one of the premier Christian higher education brands. As one of the leading brands, LeTourneau University serves as a broker for many of the diverse and significant aspects of the public discourse and innovation related to faith, science, and technology.
Before he arrived at LeTourneau University in May 2015, Egle served as the Senior Director of Communications and University Spokesperson at James Madison University. For nearly nine years, Egle led a talented team of communication and public relations professionals who contributed to JMU’s accelerated ascent to a leading national public institution of higher education. Egle’s professional experience and contributions are further reflected in his time as the Director of University Relations for Liberty University from 2004-2006. Egle led a team of public relations professionals and served as the public relations lead for Liberty University’s Founder and Chancellor. In that capacity, Egle represented Liberty University and the Founder and Chancellor in news media outlets worldwide.
Egle earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership with an Entrepreneurial Leadership specialization from Regent University’s School of Business and Leadership. His dissertation focused on the topic of joyful leadership. He also earned his MBA and B.S. degrees from Liberty University. In addition to his academic credentials, Egle is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America Universal Accreditation Board and an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) by the International Association of Business Communicators. Egle is among a very small and prestigious group with both professional accreditations. In addition to his service and contributions to higher education, Egle is an entrepreneur and provides dynamic leadership, brand coaching, and consulting services to leaders in diverse industries.
Egle is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ and actively seeks to lead joyfully and build team and organizational cultures that foster meaningful growth, dynamic contributions, and transformational results. He and his wife, Brianne, and their son, Harrison, reside in Longview, Texas.
Individuals are welcome and encouraged to reach out and connect using the contact and social media platforms listed above.
Education
- Ph.D. | Organizational Leadership | Regent University
- MBA | Business Administration | Liberty University
- B.S. | Communication Studies | Liberty University
Professional Accreditations | Development | Credentials
- Accredited in Public Relations (APR) | Public Relations Society of America Universal Accreditation Board
- Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) | International Association of Business Communicators
- IMPACT3 | James Madison University
- Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team | The Table Group and Santa Clara University
- Enterprise Agile: Changing Your Culture | LinkedIn
- Creating a Culture of Learning | LinkedIn
- Strategic Agility | LinkedIn
Research and Scholarly Interests
- Joyful Leadership
- Organizational Health
- Brand Formation
- Enterprise Design
- Market-Based Innovation
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
Research & Professional Presentations | Academic Conferences
Egle, D.K. (2022, October 5-7). Optimizing the promise exchange between brand and saga [Conference session]. The Council of Independent Colleges: NetVUE Regional Gathering, Kerrville, TX, United States. https://schreiner.edu/netvue-regional-gathering/schedule-of-events/
Mason, S., Caldwell, B., Chance, S., Conn, S., Egle, D., Mahurin, R., & Ritchey, F. (2022, February 11-13). Vision-centered leadership: Recentering, reclaiming and reenergizing through deep change [Conference session]. Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Dallas, TX, United States. https://www.cccu.org/2022-forum/2022-forum-concurrent-sessions/
Egle, D.K. (2021, October 22-23). A qualitative case study of Ford Motor Company’s corporate response, turnaround, and recovery and the leadership of CEO Alan Mulally [Conference session]. 2021 Annual Research Roundtables, Virginia Beach, VA. https://www.regent.edu/school-of-business-and-leadership/news/annual-research-roundtables
Egle, D.K. (2021, October 22-23). An exploration of Stephen’s death and transformational leadership: A narrative genre analysis of Acts 7:51-60 [Conference session]. 2021 Annual Research Roundtables, Virginia Beach, VA. https://www.regent.edu/school-of-business-and-leadership/news/annual-research-roundtables
Egle, D.K. (2021, October 22-23). Leadership alignment of missional focus across cross-cultural perspectives: A socio-rhetorical analysis of Acts 8:26-40 [Conference session]. 2021 Annual Research Roundtables, Virginia Beach, VA. https://www.regent.edu/school-of-business-and-leadership/news/annual-research-roundtables
Publications
Egle, D.K. (2022). A Christian Leader’s Mindset of Discipleship. In: The Mind of a Leader: A Christian Perspective of the Thoughts, Mental Models, and Perceptions That Shape Leadership Behavior, (pp. 143-156). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Dissertation
Egle, D. K. (2023). Joyful Leadership Amidst Tragedy and Triumph: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of the Attributes and Impact of Joyful Leadership in Work and Life (Doctoral dissertation, Regent University).
Undergraduate Courses Taught
- Introduction to Public Relations | James Madison University
- Public Relations Writing | James Madison University
Graduate Teaching
- Leading Organizational Change | LeTourneau University
Professional Affiliations
- Member | Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
- Member | Counselors to Higher Education Section (PRSA)
- Member | Educators Academy Section (PRSA)
- Member | American Marketing Association (AMA)
- Member | International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
- Member | Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Professional Service
- Director At Large 2024-2025 | Public Relations Society of America Dallas Chapter
- Past National Professional Adviser 2012-2016 | Public Relations Student Society of America
- Past National Committee Chair for Leadership Development | Public Relations Society of America
- Past Member | Public Relations Society of America National Educational Affairs Committee
- Past PRSSA Professional Adviser to James Madison University and Liberty University
- Academic Program Reviewer | Wayne State University Site Visit | Certification in Education for Academic Programs in Public Relations (CEPR) | Administered by the Public Relations Society of America Educational Affairs Committee
- Bateman Case Study Competition Judge | Public Relations Student Society of America
Professional Awards
- Davey’s Awards | Gold and Silver | Nine-time Team Recipient
- MarCom Awards | Platinum and Gold | Nine-time Team Recipient
- Hermes Creative Awards | Platinum and Gold | Eight-time Team Recipient
- Communicator Awards | Platinum and Gold | Seven-time Team Recipient
- AVA Digital Awards | Platinum and Gold | Seven-time Team Recipient
- dotComm Awards | Platinum and Gold | Seven-time Team Recipient
- W3 Awards | Three-time Team Recipient
- Telly Awards | Bronze | Two-time Team Recipient
