ACMP names Malcolm Gabriel 2026 Academic Research Award winner

The Association of Change Management Professionals named Malcolm Gabriel, PhD, MBA, as the 2026 recipient of its Academic Research Award for a study on the challenges middle managers face in leading transformational change. Gabriel will present the research at ACMP’s Change Management Global Connect 2026 virtual event in July. Why it matters: - ACMP’s award spotlights research on middle managers, a group that often determines whether organizational change plans succeed or stall. - Gabriel’s findings focus on practical barriers and supports that matter to enterprise-wide transformation, including trust, empathy, sensemaking and leadership enablement. - The research is intended to help organizations better equip the people responsible for translating strategy into action. What happened: - The Association of Change Management Professionals named Malcolm Gabriel, PhD, MBA, the recipient of the 2026 ACMP Academic Research Award. - ACMP recognized Gabriel for his paper, The Challenges Faced by Middle Managers in Leading Transformational Change in Large Organizations in the U.S., and How These Can Be Effectively Addressed . - The announcement was made June 16, 2026, from Washington, D.C. The details: - Gabriel’s study used qualitative interviews with middle managers from large U.S. organizations. - The research identified role conflict, change fatigue, organizational ambiguity and inconsistent leadership support as major barriers. - The study also found that middle managers rely on trust, empathy, sensemaking and leadership enablement to navigate those challenges. - ACMP said the award recognizes scholarship that advances understanding and practice in change management. - Mary Sylvester, chair of the ACMP Academic Research Award Committee, said the committee valued the study’s relevance, depth and applicability. - Sylvester said the work bridges theory and practice while giving voice to middle managers and offering actionable guidance for practitioners and organizational leaders. - Alan Bostakian, ACMP’s Director of the Profession, said the research addresses a meaningful gap in academic literature and organizational practice. - Bostakian said middle managers play a vital role in translating strategy into action globally. - Gabriel is a talent strategy and organizational effectiveness consultant with leadership experience in healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, agriculture and global talent management. - Gabriel is currently Director, Enterprise Culture & Recognition at Indiana University Health. - ACMP said Gabriel has spent decades helping organizations navigate complex transformation efforts. Between the lines: - The award choice signals that ACMP is elevating research with direct workplace application, not just academic novelty. - The emphasis on middle managers reflects a broader change-management reality: senior leaders may set direction, but middle managers often carry the day-to-day burden of implementation. - The focus on support structures suggests that change failures are not just about strategy, but also about how organizations equip managers to absorb and communicate change. What’s next: - Gabriel will present his award-winning research during Change Management Global Connect 2026 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET. - The virtual event runs July 28–30 and will include more than 40 live and on-demand sessions on change management, leadership, innovation and organizational transformation. - Early registration rates are available through June 18. - More information about the conference and registration is available here . The bottom line: - ACMP is using its academic award to reinforce a simple message: better change outcomes depend heavily on how well organizations support middle managers.