Berkshire, Steven

Biography

Dr. Berkshire joined the faculty at Central Michigan University in the capacity of Professor and Director of the Doctor of Health Administration Program in July 2008 after serving as the Dean of Graduate Programs and Professor of Management in the College for Professional Studies at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Prior to Regis University, he served as Associate Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Management at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska.

Prior to joining the academic world full-time Dr. Berkshire was a health care executive and consultant for more than 25 years in several capacities. Positions included being a hospital executive in Idaho, Oregon, Colorado and Alaska in both the acute care setting and psychiatric setting. During his hospital career, he opened a new hospital in the Denver market. He was a hospital association executive for several years in which capacity Dr. Berkshire managed shared services, led public policy initiatives, and represented the healthcare industry at the local, state and national level. (He was a lobbyist.) Dr. Berkshire also directed the Developmental Disabilities Council for the State of Idaho. His position in the healthcare field allowed Dr. Berkshire to be involved in various groups and task forces that were involved in the development of health care policy and programs, such as the early revisions to Medicare and Medicaid including DRG and prospective payment, health planning agencies, and the PSRO/PRO development. He served on the Region Advisory Board of the American Hospital Association and on the Board of Governors for the Federation of American Hospitals. His consulting practice includes work with organizations on management and leadership programs, human resource issues, organizational development and change, board responsibilities, and several leadership instruments.

Professionally Dr. Berkshire is a Certified Healthcare Executive (CHE) and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). He served as the ACHE Regent for the State of Alaska in the late 1990's, has held leadership positions in local chapters of the ACHE, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the American Society for Training and Development. He is a member of the Academy of Management, International Leadership Association, Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education, and other organizations. He was selected to membership in Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honorary Society) and Phi Lambda Theta (National Education Honorary.) Alaska Pacific University awarded him the Community Service Award and the Outstanding Business Teacher Award while he taught at the University.

Dr. Berkshire has also taught as an adjunct for the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, Emmanuel College in Boston, and for Chapman University and LeVerne University at their Alaska campuses. He received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado after starting studies at the University of Alaska, his Masters in Health Administration from Indiana University School of Medicine, and his doctoral degree in Human Resource Education and Organization Behavior from Boston University. He also studied in the graduate Public Administration program at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He has served on dissertation and graduate theses committees. Dr. Berkshire's primary research interests are in leadership studies, organizational behavior and development, management systems, and human resources.

He and his wife, Eileen Swinehart, reside in Mount Pleasant. They have seven adult children and seven grandchildren. Two of the "kids" are in the healthcare professions of Physical Therapy and Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture.