Jason A. Kaufman, Ph.D., Ed.D., is a professor of educational leadership and director of the institutional review board at Minnesota State University, Mankato and a licensed psychologist. His teaching uses a lean and lab-rich approach to promote scientific thinking. His research explores the intersection of mind-body medicine and ecopsychology. His writing focuses on leadership development and space policy. He is a co-author of Leadership in Star Trek: Lessons from the Captain's Chair and the upcoming Captain Pike in the C-Suite: Humble Leadership in Star Trek (McFarland) and the upcoming Humble Leadership: Lessons from Captain Pike (anticipated 2026) from McFarland, as well as the anthology Second Star to the Right: Essays on Leadership in Star Trek and the upcoming Beyond the Next Star: The Importance of Failure in Star Trek (anticipated 2027) from Vernon Press. He also co-hosts the podcast Dice in Mind.