Meet Dylan Page

Of all the things I’m proud to be—a Buckeye, Soldier, son, grandson, friend, American, and leader—being a leader among all of these has been the most rewarding and challenging. Since starting my academic journey at The Ohio State University, I have actively sought opportunities to immerse myself in situations that foster intellectual curiosity and personal development.

During my undergraduate studies, I broadened my horizons by joining the Glenn College in my sophomore year, adding a dual major, and recognizing the importance of management and policy skills. As a graduate student, I refined my studies to apply these abilities toward a future in the public sector. Now, as a PhD student, I focus on understanding organizational identity and culture, along with individual leadership styles and behaviors. I trust that Ohio State and the Glenn College will continue to provide the resources and support I need to achieve my goals.

Leadership is not just about outcomes; it's about the process. Understanding how leadership behaviors and styles contribute to both self-development and team development is essential. Leaders who foster continuous learning and a growth-oriented culture enable their teams to adapt and innovate. This socialization process—where leaders model and instill desired behaviors in others—is key to building resilient organizations.

Effective leaders create a development feedback loop, mentoring and guiding others while evolving in their own roles. Leadership effectiveness is measured not only by achieving short-term objectives but by nurturing a lasting culture of excellence, adaptability and shared vision. As such, true leadership success extends beyond performance metrics to how leaders shape the future readiness and cohesion of their teams and organizations.

We can hypothesize that leadership plays a crucial role in shaping an organization's identity, culture and outcomes. Its impact can be understood through the Big Five personality traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Leaders high in Openness drive innovation and adaptability, while those strong in Conscientiousness provide structure and focus. Extraverted leaders inspire and engage teams, fostering a sense of belonging, while Agreeable leaders build trust and cooperation. Low Neuroticism enables leaders to remain calm under pressure, guiding teams through challenges. Effective leadership blends these traits to achieve organizational goals and cultivate a resilient, growth-oriented culture where self- and team development thrive.

Through my research, I aim to contribute to discussions that produce and develop better leaders, understand how they shape the organizations they serve, and build a stronger military-public sector-higher education leadership network. By doing so, I believe we will create better leaders, develop a clearer understanding of the behaviors and styles suited for specific organizations, and significantly improve the public sector leadership model.

My research interests include:

1. Leadership and Leader Behaviors
2. Organizational Identity, Behavior and Culture
3. Intersectionality of Leadership and Inclusion
4. Impact of Leaders
5. Military and Law Enforcement Leadership
6. Comparative Leadership Studies

Dylan L. Page is currently a PhD student at the John Glenn College and conducts research with Dr. Russell Hassan. He graduated in 2024 with a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Applied Economics (College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences). He is an alumnus of the College of Arts and Sciences and John Glenn College of Public Affairs, majoring in political science and public policy analysis, graduating with Honors, minors in economics, history, classics: Greek civilization, and latin honors of magna cum laude. He attended Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO where he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for his meritorious service and achievement in training. He graduated MOS-qualified as an 88M (Motor Transport Operator) and contracted with the Ohio State University Army ROTC as a SMP Cadet in autumn of 2022. Upon his graduation in 2024, Page was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer in the Ohio Army National Guard and will attend Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ.