2015 Alumni

Michael Mills, a native of Charlottean, and recent graduate of the University of North Carolina- at Charlotte majoring in Psychology.  As an undergraduate, Michael was an Avenir scholar and a member of the ILDS.  He also assisted in labs relating to clinical sciences; however, found his passion for I/O Psychology in the workforce.  He plans to enter an I/O program focusing his research on improving employee satisfaction and motivation.

A research topic I am interested in is different types of internal and external factors that can increase employee’s longevity.  Specifically, I’d look at factors that does not inclusive of an employee’s salary.

Marjani is a senior in the honors program at Temple University. She is majoring in psychology, while pursuing minors in both General Business Studies and Italian. Marjani is a Psi Chi member and is involved in a research lab within the business school. Marjani’s recent semester abroad in Rome has influenced her research interests to include cultural difference’s affect on business communication, while her primary research interest is diversity within the workplace. Marjani’s goal is to obtain her PhD in organizational behavior or I/O Psychology and to become a professor while furthering research.

Lanitra Bennett is native of Summerton South Carolina. She is a rising senior at the University of South Carolina Upstate pursing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a psychology minor. Lanitra currently is an active member of Gamma Beta Phi and a recent member of Beta Gamma Sigma, both honors associations. Lanitra also is a research assistant at USC Upstate, assisting with research on gender differences in career success. Upon graduation, Lanitra’s goal is obtain her Master’s in human resources conducting research on how discrimination affects the hiring process.

The research topic I would like to work on is how discrimination based on name, sex, or race affects the hiring decisions.

I recently completed my undergraduate degree in psychology from Missouri State University this past fall. I am a member of Psi Chi and I have been involved with an array of different organizations while on campus. I was a research assistant in the Psychology Department, a Resident Assistant in University Housing and an active member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority as an appointed official. I plan to attend the University of Miami this upcoming fall. I will be working towards an M.S.Ed with a concentration in Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. After the completion of my master’s, I hope to be accepted into a Ph.D. in I/O Psychology program in order to continue working in academia.  My research interests are related to psychometrics and the validation of test and assessments that are used to identify individual traits and characteristics.

A research topic I am interested in pursuing during the Institute would be the development and/or validation of tests and assessments that are used in the workplace. I would like to have the opportunity to learn more about how personal or cognitive traits have an effect on job outcome and performance.