Cole Short Receives Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Research Contribution

Pepperdine Graziadio faculty member Dr. Cole Short has been awarded the Outstanding Author Contribution award in the 2024 Emerald Literati Awards. His winning chapter, "Extending Upper Echelons Theory: How Evaluators Influence Signal Interpretation and Evaluation," was featured in New Horizons in Managerial and Organizational Cognition and recognized for its exceptional research and valuable contribution to the field of strategic management.

The Emerald Literati Awards celebrate outstanding academic contributions in journals and books across the globe. This prestigious recognition highlights research that has a meaningful impact on knowledge and advances critical fields of study. Dr. Short’s work stood out for its innovative approach to extending Upper Echelons Theory—one of the most influential theories in strategic management.

In his award-winning chapter, Dr. Short explores how executive decisions are influenced not only by personal characteristics, as posited by Upper Echelons Theory, but also by the cognitive filtering processes of key evaluators such as boards of directors, financial analysts, and the media. His work provides new insights into how these evaluators interpret and assess the verbal and non-verbal signals sent by CEOs, offering a fresh perspective on executive decision-making.

The Emerald Literati Awards aim to promote global awareness of diverse voices in academic research and recognize work that addresses significant questions with rigorous analysis. Dr. Short’s chapter is a shining example of research that bridges theory and practice, providing valuable insights for both academia and industry.

Read the award winning research here.