Social Class Background and Workplace Norms Lab
A Learning by Serving Lab
The Social Class Background and Workplace Norms is a team of researchers working to support marginalized groups in organizations. We are investigating what the "invisible rules" in professional environments are, and how Black and White employees from working-class backgrounds have learned and navigated these norms in their own work lives. Our community is currently represented in Florida, California, and New Jersey, by K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students. Our work has been presented at the 2020 Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychologist's Annual Conference and the 2021 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
​
Research Assistants
Donya Ardalan
Donya Ardalan holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California Riverside and intends to further their education by pursuing graduate school. Their research interests include how work and family environments influence decision-making behaviors and performance.
​
Mykala Dechant
Mykala Dechant graduated with a B.A in Psychology from the University of California Riverside. She intends to get her Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Her research interest includes examine cross-cultural differences in employee health/wellbeing, motivation, and leadership.
Angelina Elliott,
SHRM-CP, MS-IO, CMS, SSLP
Angelina Elliott earned her Master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Bachelor's Degree in Human Services in Child and Family Welfare, Protection of Human Rights, from Purdue University. She is an SHRM certified human resources professional with a strong background in supporting and developing personal and professional growth.
​
Bianca Marconcini
Bianca Marconcini holds a B.A in Psychology with Honors from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is interested in experiences at the intersection of race, gender, sexual orientation, and class. In particular, she is focused on studying White identity and the way social contexts such as housing segregation and other socioeconomic and race-based experiences shape people’s different understandings of White privilege. She wants to study how these differing understandings shape varying support for policies addressing access to equitable healthcare, education, and employment.
Kamalini Rodriguez
Kamalini Rodriguez holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in International Communication from Florida International University. She intends to pursue a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Her research interests include cultural adaptation, team performance, and conflict management.
Jan Joey Jr. Zabala
Jan Joey Jr. Zabala is currently a fourth-year at the University of California Riverside pursuing his B.A in Psychology with a minor in General Business. He intends to further his education through pursuing a Master’s in Legal and Forensic Psychology. His research interests include criminal profiling, effective mental health treatments for offenders, and impacts of marital conflict and violence.
Courtney Berthiaume
Courtney Berthiaume holds a B.A. in psychology from University of California, Riverside. She intends to pursue a master’s in Organizational Behavior. Her interests include helping companies and organizations establish trust within their employees and increasing performance, trust, and confidence in the organization. Courtney’s approach is to work from the ground up to build rapport throughout the entire organization, focusing on eliminating or minimizing power dynamics.
Camila Muñoz-Hirschfeld
Current Title: Human Resources Generalist
Education:
FIU - BA, Psychology. Focus: I-O; Minor: Business; Certificate: Women’s and Gender Studies
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
FAU - Certificate: Human Resource Management
FIU - Master’s in Human Resource Management (MSHRM - Pending)
​
Rochelle Camino Oliver
Rochelle Camino Oliver holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with minors in psychology, mathematics, and chemistry from University of Miami. She also finished her M.Eng in Bioengineering at the University of Maryland. She is currently pursuing her master's in Social-Organizational psychology at the Teacher's College at Columbia University. She is interested in topics at the crossroads of gender, race, negotiation, and conflict management resolution. Moreover, her motivation focuses on studying organizational culture and dynamics with the lens of marginalized groups, including women, Latin-X, and employees with disabilities.
Alondra Santiago Martinez
Alondra is an undergraduate junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering. She intends to pursue medical school after her undergraduate studies. Her interests include culture and societal norms, education, prosthetics, and vaccine development.