2011 TC Research
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College Columbia University

Research

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Debra A. Noumair

Professional Background

Educational Background

  • Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Ed.M., Teachers College, Columbia University
  • B.S., Boston University

    • Scholarly Interests

  • Group and organizational dynamics and the application of systems thinking to individual, team, and organizational performance.
  • Examining the influence of diversity and authority on leadership and followership behavior in groups, organizations, institutions, and society.

    • Selected Publications

    Cytyrnbaum, S., & Noumair, D.A. (Eds.). (2004). Group dynamics, organizational irrationality, and social complexity: Group relations reader 3: The A. K. Rice Institute, Jupiter, FL.

    Noumair, D.A. (2004). Diversity and authority conferences as a social defense. In L. J. Gould & L. Stapley & M. Stein (Eds.), Applied experiential learning: The group relations training approach. Madison, CT: Psychosocial Press.

    Noumair, D. A. & Burke, W. W. (2002). The Multiplicity of Roles and Demands for the Leader as Partner. In L. Segil, J. Belasco & Goldsmith, M. (Eds.) The Leader as Partner.

    Burke, W.W., & Noumair, D.A. (2001). Personality assessment in organization development. In A.H. Church & J. Waclawski (Eds.), Handbook of Organization Development. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

    Reed, G. M., & Noumair, D. A. (2000). The Tiller of Authority in a Sea of Diversity: Empowerment, Disempowerment, and the Politics of Identity. In E. Klein & F. Gabelnick & P. Herr (Eds.), Dynamic consultation in a changing workplace. Madison, CT: Psychosocial Press.

    biographical information

    Professor Noumair received her masters and doctoral degrees in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.  Having spent nine years on the faculty of the Counseling Psychology program, she joined the Social- Organizational program faculty in 1999. After joining the program, she coordinated the Ph.D. Program for two years.  Professor Noumair's primary area of research focuses on group and organizational dynamics and the application of systems thinking to individual, team, and organizational performance. A related domain of inquiry is examining the influence of diversity and authority on leadership and followership behavior in groups, organizations, institutions, and society. She teaches courses on organization consultation and change, process consultation, group dynamics, and executive coaching.  Her teaching, research and scholarship, and service are all aimed at the application and integration of theory, research, and practice.  Towards that end, Professor Noumair is the Director of the Advanced Organization Development and Human Resource Management Program sponsored by Teachers College.  She is also on the faculty of leadership development programs sponsored by the Department of Executive Education at Columbia University Business School, by the Simmons School of Management, and by Mercer Delta's Executive Learning Center.  Professor Noumair is a fellow of the A. K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems and a member of the American Psychological Association and the Academy of Management. A licensed psychologist in New York, Dr. Noumair maintains a private practice of organization consultation and executive coaching.
     
     
    Debra Noumair's Process Consultation Group

    Process Consultation Supervision: Doctoral students work as process consultants to weekly work groups in ORLJ 6343, Practicum in Organizational Change and Consultation, and meet for supervision on a weekly basis. Process consultation is an intervention model employed to promote effective group functioning at all levels of organizational life. By focusing solely on group process as it relates to task accomplishment, the process consultant develops a unique set of skills that have broad application to work with individuals, groups, and organizations.

    Supervision is constructed to enhance learning at both the group level and the individual level. In order to promote integration of learning related to group and organizational dynamics, a group-as-a-whole framework is emphasized; in order to promote individual development, learning focused on the "self-as-instrument" is underscored. Students are required to participate in Process Consultation for 2 semesters.

    Students who have taken Process Consultation recently:                       

    Marina Field           (mpf27@columbia.edu)
    LaToya Ingram       (tclatoya@)yahoo.com)
    Yaron Prywes         (mrprywes@yahoo.com)

    ORLJ 4901: Research and independent study in social-organizational psychology

    ORLJ 5014: Special topics in organizational psychology

    Faculty. New and emerging developments, practices, and concerns in the field of social-organizational psychology are examined and evaluated. Topics are announced in the schedules distributed each semester.

    ORLJ 6343: Practicum in change and consultation in organizations

    Permission required. Prerequisite: ORL 5362 and ORLJ 4005. Enrollment limited. Open to doctoral candidates and others who have a strong background in social science, organizational behavior, administration, psychology, or business. Planned change in organizations. Offers the opportunity to study and experience anticipated consultant roles during the entry, diagnostic, and intervention phases of efforts to effect change. Special fee.

    ORLJ 6349: Research workgroup in social-organizational psychology : Group/organizational dynamics and diversity issues in organizations

    Permission required. Limited to doctoral students. Topics are announced in the preliminary and final course schedules distributed each semester.

    ORLJ 6901: Advanced research and independent study in social-organizational psychology

    ORLJ 8900: Dissertation advisement in social-organizational psychology

    Fee to equal 3 points at current tuition rate for each term. For requirements, see section on Continuous Registration for Ed.D./Ph.D. degrees.

    Centers and Projects

    Executive Education Programs in Change and Consultation