Dear Students,
Happy (almost) fall and welcome or welcome back to TC's campus. This is my first newsletter in the 2023-2024 academic year. I send these monthly to our MA program community to communicate key program information, to share interesting articles, and to spotlight student and alumni accomplishments. Feel free to let me know if there is anything you want highlighted in upcoming newsletters.
During last week's Orientation, I spoke about our program's strengths and values and linked them to things going on in the world right now. Skilled organizational psychologists are clearly needed in every industry around the world, so study hard and get ready! I also shared some advice that I hope will be helpful to you and I noted some fun facts about our newest cohort to join the program this year.
If you are interested, see here for my remarks.
It has been wonderful to meet so many of you in person after exchanging summer emails, and I'm delighted to reconnect with our returning students too. We've missed you! I am always heartened by the work we do together at TC, and I am looking forward to a great semester and year with you all.
Warmly,
Current Student Profile
Mia Behrens is a student in the Social-Organizational Psychology M.A. Program. After obtaining her B.S. in Psychology and Theology from Fordham University in 2021, Mia started her professional career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a clinical research coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences working on meaning-centered research studies. With a desire to expand meaning-centered research and application, Mia began exploring ways that purpose could be found on a broader scale in the workplace. This led her to the study of organizational psychology, entering the S-OP program with a strong interest in leadership research and eager to explore the impact that good leaders can have on their employees' ability to find meaning in their work. This past summer and going into the fall, Mia is interning at Summit Leadership Partners, a management consulting firm that focuses on leadership advisory.
Mia is excited to start her role as the incoming president of the Organization and Human Development Consulting Club (OHDCC), a student-run club that supports the S-OP program, promoting professional development, networking and community building at TC. She loves connecting with other TC students and is excited to meet the incoming S-OP class! Outside of work, school, and OHDCC, Mia loves staying active: running, biking, playing tennis, skiing - you name it. She is also a huge dog lover, she has fostered 5 puppies over the past few years and has serious puppy fever.
Alumni Profile
Dr. Mateo Cruz is an award-winning teacher-scholar at Bentley University. His primary research focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice (DEIJ), and change in groups & organizations. His research has been published in top management and psychology outlets including, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Vocational Behavior, and Research in Organizational Change and Development and presented to academic and executive audiences in the US, Europe, and South Africa.
As a scholar-practitioner, Mateo’s work is guided by one central goal: To design and deliver evidence-based interventions that advance change leaders at the intersection of identities. He holds 20+ years of experience as an executive coach and organization development & change (ODC) consultant & trainer specializing in inclusive leadership, group & team dynamics, and organizational change. Recent clients include: athenahealth, Beacon Pointe Financial, Deloitte, Harvard School of Engineering, HubSpot, NuMat Technologies, Strand Therapeutics, Vuuma Collaborations, and the New York Academy of Sciences.
Mateo views his academic work as an extension of his passion for teaching and training, leadership development, and community advocacy. Prior to joining the Social-Organizational Psychology MA program in 2007, he spent almost 10 years in nonprofit management designing programs for youth leaders in the LGBTQ+ community. Upon joining TC, he established several DEI initiatives for OHDCC in partnership with Dr. Brazaitis and the S-OP faculty. Soon after, he served as the President of OHDCC leading a restructure of the organization to add a Peer Mentorship program and Project Management opportunities for members. He is proud to see OHDCC continue to thrive! He welcomes opportunities for connection and collaboration with current and former members.
Mateo holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.A. in social work/psychology from the University of Portland.
Feel free to connect with Mateo via email or LinkedIn. You can also visit Mateo's website to learn more about him and his work.
Recommended Readings/Listenings
Having trouble adjusting to being back at school, work and all of it? Here is an article that offers some tips for getting back into the groove of your daily routine after a vacation.
The podcast, Hidden in Plain Sight: All things Asian in the workplace, is created by Duoc Nguyen, PhD, Eccho Yu, MA, and Jennifer Kim, PhD. All three organizational psychologists are alumni of our broader S-OP community. Each episode breaks down a specific topic, such as how stereotypes play into pay negotiation, what professional development looks like for Asian employees, and what forms of bias, stereotypes, and microaggressions Asian professionals have to navigate, and so much more!