Capstone: Board Change for Improved Leadership & Governance

Dr. Yvonne Cafik Harrison is a distinguished social scientist and professor at the School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo, part of the State University of New York. With a focus on the leadership and governance of nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations, she has developed significant expertise in the adoption and use of modern information and communications technology within these contexts. Alongside co-investigator Professor Vic Murray from the University of Victoria, Dr. Cafik Harrison created Board Check-Up, a tool designed to enhance board technical capacity and address governance challenges faced by boards of directors. This longitudinal research initiative assesses the impact of board performance self-assessment from both output (changes in governance practices) and outcome (board performance) perspectives. She is also a co-author of the book Guidelines for Improving the Effectiveness of Nonprofit Boards of Directors and has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and research reports. Dr. Cafik Harrison holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Victoria, BC, Canada. Through her teaching and research, she continues to influence the field of nonprofit governance significantly.

Dr. Vic Murray is an esteemed Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria, with a rich background in nonprofit management and organizational behavior. From 1983 to 1995, he directed the Voluntary Sector Management Program at York University's Schulich School of Business, where he pioneered Canada’s first certificate and master’s level programs in nonprofit leadership. An accomplished author, Dr. Murray has contributed extensively to the literature on nonprofit governance, strategic planning, and organizational effectiveness. His current research focuses on board performance self-assessment and its impact on governance practices within nonprofit organizations. Through his commitment to education and research, Dr. Murray has significantly influenced the field, earning recognition for his contributions to nonprofit leadership and philanthropy. His work continues to shape best practices in governance and organizational effectiveness in the voluntary sector.