Gordon Ford College of Business Staff

- Associate Professor - Management | Graduate Faculty
- mariah.yates@wku.edu
- Grise Hall 207
- 615-502-2127
- Curriculum Vitae
Business Communication Fundamentals
Organization and Management
Ethics & Critical Thinking
Organizational Behavior
PhD, Management, Organizational Behavior, University of Cincinnati, 2018
MBA, Sustainability, Western Kentucky University, 2012
BA, Corporate Communication, Western Kentucky University, 2007
Dr. Mariah Yates is an Associate Professor of Management at Western Kentucky University. Her teaching and research focus on organizational behavior, leadership, critical thinking, business ethics, and corporate social responsibility, with an emphasis on authenticity and equity in workplace practices. She is the co-author of Swift Leadership: A Taylor-made Approach to Influence and Decision Making (Emerald Publishing, 2025), which explores leadership lessons through the lens of popular culture.
A champion of innovative pedagogy and inclusive learning environments, Dr. Yates has developed and taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, including the popular Honors colloquium “Taylor Swift & Leadership.” She frequently presents her work on AI in education, diversity and inclusion, and ethical leadership at national and international conferences.
Dr. Yates has received numerous awards recognizing her excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service, including the Vitale Award for Innovation and Leadership and multiple national honors from the Small Business Institute. Her scholarship has been published in journals such as Global Journal of Management and Marketing and Journal of Small Business Strategy, and she serves on editorial review boards for both.
Beyond campus, Dr. Yates is an active community leader and serves on the board of Phoenix Rising Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth affected by human trafficking. She holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration (Management) from the University of Cincinnati, an M.B.A. with a focus on Sustainability, and a B.A. in Corporate Communication from WKU.
ates, M. & Urick, M. Swift (March 2025) Leadership: A Taylor-made Approach to Influence and Decision Making. Emerald Publishing.
Daniels, A., Yates, M., & Spiller, S. (2023). Six Ways that Small Firms Can Embrace Equity and Fairness. Entrepreneurs & Innovation Exchange.
Daniels, A., Yates, M., & Spiller, S. (2023). Equity Can Help Small Firms Survive the Labor Shortage. Entrepreneurs & Innovation Exchange.
Rahim, A., Yates, M., Katz., J., & Civelek, I., (2022). A structural equations model of emotional intelligence and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Global Journal of Management and Marketing.
Peake, W., Yates, M., Barber, D., & McMillan, A. (2020). Do Entrepreneurs Do Good Deeds to Maximize Wins or Avoid Losses? A Regulatory Focus Perspective. Journal of Small Business Strategy.