Joyce McEwen Crane, Ph.D. | Teacher and Coach

“My life is a testimony to the power of transformation.”

How a shy introvert became a trusted coach and leadership educator working with individuals and teams is, by her own account, something of a mystery. What’s clear is Joyce’s enduring commitment to helping people break through barriers, adapt to complexity, and engage leadership as a daily practice.

Dr. Joyce McEwen Crane believes a deep understanding of relationships and complex systems is essential to leadership that truly makes a difference. “I’m endlessly curious about people and what drives them,” she says. “Life isn’t simple, and leadership certainly isn’t. Both are learning journeys—and I’m grateful to be on that journey with participants and clients.”

Joyce teaches and coaches with the Kansas Leadership Center, partnering with individuals, organizations, and communities to strengthen leadership capacity and support meaningful change. She is known for her strategic thinking, steady presence, and deep empathy for the human experience.

Dr. McEwen Crane holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Southern Methodist University and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation. Her training includes certifications in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), EQ-i 2.0, Immunity to Change, and Adam Grant’s PrinciplesYou, along with credentials from the Institute for Life Coach Training and the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. She also completed the Art and Practice of Leadership Development program through Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education.

Earlier in her career, Joyce worked for more than two decades as a psychologist and clinician in Texas and Kansas, taught as an adjunct professor, owned and operated two businesses, and managed counseling centers. She is a co-founder of the Ad Astra Coach Alliance and has designed and delivered numerous leadership and organizational learning programs over the years.

In addition to her work with KLC, Joyce co-owns Resonance Coaching and Consulting with her husband, Alan.

A fourth-generation Kansan, Joyce comes from a long line of farmers, teachers, community servants, and entrepreneurs. When she’s not coaching or teaching, she can often be found traveling, singing in her church choir, sailing on a local lake, crafting greeting cards, or experimenting in her kitchen with recipes that may—or may not—ever be repeated.