What is it about?
We highlight the contributions of five Black industrial–organizational (I-O) psychologists who have significantly influenced the field through scholarship, mentorship, practice, and service. These psychologists, have all earned the distinction of being inducted as fellows in the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, an honor which is bestowed upon members who have engaged in meaningful work that has positively impacted the field. The article aims to bring awareness to their work and provide a practical guide for others in I-O, and psychology broadly. The goal of this article is to help improve scientific contributions by considering diversity and inclusion implications in broader areas of research conducted and to improve mentoring of Black graduate students.
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Why is it important?
The contributions of the Black I-O psychologists reviewed in this article are vast and they are noteworthy, in part, because they helped push work on diversity, equity, and inclusion into high-impact, top tier journals. The work and presence of these psychologists has opened the door for other Black I-O psychologists. Their scholarship and practice highlight the ability to think critically about applying DEI perspectives to all I-O work, and their mentorship efforts provide useful modeling frameworks on best practices in developing Black graduate students.
Perspectives
Black psychologists are underrepresented in the field, and the work of Black psychologists has historically been overlooked and less recognized than the work of White psychologists. Namely, the field often fails to recognize Black psychologists as pioneers, even when their accomplishments deem them worthy of such accolades. This article not only recognizes the achievements of these scholars, but can also serve as a useful teaching and training tool for faculty teaching and conducting research on I-O psychology related topics.
Enrica Ruggs
University of Houston
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Amplifying Black excellence in industrial–organizational psychology., American Psychologist, May 2023, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/amp0001118.
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