A self-described science fiction nerd, Dr. Amy Lewis has landed what she calls a dream project rooted in one of her favorite franchises, “Star Trek.”
Lewis, a professor of management, is under contract with two co-authors to write a book titled, “To Boldly Go: Leadership Visions from the Future,” scheduled for publication in summer 2027. The book is part of Emerald Publishing’s series that examines leadership practices through the lens of popular culture.
Lewis explains that as a kid growing up in the 1970s, she developed a love for fantasy and science fiction.
“This was back when families watched TV together, and we were a sci-fi family,” she said. “We watched reruns of “Star Trek,” “Battlestar Galactica,” and “Buck Rogers,” and they really resonated with me. Those are some of my most formative memories.”
Among those influences, “Star Trek” stood out. What began as a television series in the 1960s has since grown into a global phenomenon spanning films, spin-offs, video games, and novels. Lewis said the franchise’s enduring appeal lies in its focus on discovery, continuous improvement, and the pursuit of a better society.
“I’ve always had the science fiction nerd cred,” Lewis said, noting she has attended numerous Comic-Cons and even met her partner on a Star Trek cruise in 2017.
The book’s title draws from the iconic opening monologue of the original series: “To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
Lewis’s academic expertise in social psychology, motivation, teams, and managerial cognition aligns naturally with the project. The book uses “Star Trek” as a framework to make leadership theories more accessible and engaging. Other titles in Emerald’s series explore similar themes through franchises like “The Avengers,” “Harry Potter,” and “The Lord of the Rings.”
For the book project, Lewis is collaborating with Gordon Schmidt, a professor of management at the University of Louisiana Monroe, and Aditya Simha, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Together, they examine traditional leadership concepts, such as negotiation, conflict resolution, and leading change, alongside futuristic topics like artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
“I’m so excited about this project. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Lewis said. “Gordon and Aditya have both contributed to other books in the series, and I’m serving as the “Star Trek” expert. With more than 60 years of fandom, there’s a significant audience for this kind of work.”
That dedicated fan base played a role in Emerald Publishing’s decision to move forward with the project, Lewis added.
This is not her first time using “Star Trek” as a teaching tool. She co-edited the 2023 book “Entrepreneurial Cosplay,” which explores how fans and artists turn creative pursuits into entrepreneurial opportunities. Also, she and Dr. Matthew Mangum, clinical associate professor, had their paper, “A Compromise! Using Star Trek: Lower Decks to Help Negotiators Move Beyond Splitting the Difference,” published in Management Teaching Review in 2024.
It was during that publication process that she connected with co-author Schmidt. Along with Simha, the group developed a proposal that highlighted the Star Trek-themed book’s broad appeal.
“Star Trek fans are passionate,” Lewis said. “So the book has to be both informative and true to the details. I’m envisioning an academically rigorous ‘airport book’—something accessible for readers who want to grow as leaders. I think it has a lot of potential.”