A Golden Journey

Today, Dr. Leigh Settlemoir is Assistant Dean of the School of Health Sciences (SHS), serving the operations of the school in many wonderful ways. Her journey to the school is truly intriguing. Many know of her great contributions to SHS and the University, but may not know the full story of how she came to Oakland University and her professional community leadership.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Settlemoir now describes Oakland as her “home away from home.” A two-time OU alum, Dr. Settlemoir’s career trajectory was not one that she had expected. Having completed her undergraduate education at OU, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development with a specialization in training and development, she followed this with a Masters of Business Administration with foci in human resources and industrial relations from Wayne State University. In 2001, she began a career in automotive human resources; however, with an industry downturn, she soon found herself searching for a new job. Dr. Settlemoir interviewed for a human resource position in the OU Provost’s Office in 2002. “My aunt, who spent a brief time in higher education, said the culture is so wonderful and supportive – she encouraged me to look into it,” says Dr. Settlemoir. This began her higher education career, eventually becoming the youngest Assistant Vice President at OU and ultimately launching her journey into doctoral work.

“Within a few weeks, I started hearing, ‘when you’re done with your masters, you need to go for your Ph.D.’,” Dr. Settlemoir says. “In HR at the time, nobody had a doctorate. I thought I wasn’t good enough to pursue one. But the people who hired me – including Art Griggs, former assistant dean of SHS – could see my potential. I finally got tired of them chasing me around, so I put together the application package. After a while, I got this thin envelope from OU. I’m like, ‘yes, it’s my rejection letter – finally they will stop this conversation.’ I opened it, and I was admitted. Now I had to go.” 

Dr. Settlemoir completed her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in higher education administration in 2016 – an opportunity for which she is very grateful. She says, “My doctoral work has opened up doors and conversations that I would not normally be able to have.” Her research focuses on academic labor, specifically related to the role of the department chair and best practices for providing training for the individuals in these positions. 

While she is a dedicated OU staff member and part-time faculty, Dr. Settlemoir also shares her knowledge and talents far beyond campus. She is heavily involved with the Sky Foundation, an organization that aims to promote early detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer – a disease from which both her father and grandfather passed. 

Interested in helping contribute to the detection of this early cancer, Dr. Settlemoir attended a fundraiser for the Sky Foundation. Following the event, she emailed her interest in volunteering, which quickly led to a phone call with none other than the foundation’s founder, Sheila Sky Kasselman. “When she heard about my research background,” Dr. Settlemoir describes, “she asked me to be the go-between between the scientific advisory committee, whose work is in cancer science, and the board, who funds the work – I help to translate the million-dollar words into something that the people of the board can understand.” 

Dr. Settlemoir has been involved with the Sky Foundation for four years. In addition to serving as liaison, she recently coordinated the entire grants process for the Sky Foundation. This grant competition has grown tremendously and is now national, with big names such as Harvard and Sloan Kettering applying for funding. 

For Dr. Settlemoir, building hope is the best part of her work with the foundation. “We’re able to tell people what we’re funding and how researchers are collaborating to improve the survival rate,” Dr. Settlemoir passionately says. “Even though we have families with patients who sadly may not make it, we help provide hope for the future.”

For her work with the Sky Foundation, Dr. Settlemoir earned the 2024 Oakland University Staff Excellence Award in Community Engagement. In addition to being an OU employee and a two-time alumna, Dr. Settlemoir also created the Settlemoir Academic Leadership Endowment, which provides funding for the students in the doctoral programs in the Department of Organizational Leadership. 

“In the School of Health Sciences, we have many talented faculty and staff who do wonderful things,” says Dr.  Kevin Ball, dean and professor of SHS. “To know that Dr. Settlemoir, who serves us in administration, is also a faculty member, contributor to the scientific process and donor – truly shows the immense capacity she has to help others. We are grateful to have her on our team.”

Dr. Settlemoir is “Black and Gold” at heart, and loves Oakland University. “I’m proud of the work that I’ve been able to do and the people that I’ve been able to work with,” she says heartfeltly. “This is a very special place.”

To learn more about the School of Health Sciences, visit the SHS website.