Affiliation(s):

• Professor Department of Communication, Wayne State University
• Associate Dean, Curricular and Student Affairs, CFPCA Dean’s Office, Wayne State University

My undergraduate degree is in Psychology from the University of Calgary. I have an MA in Applied (Clinical) Psychology from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. My Ph.D. is in Applied Social Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.

I identify as an applied researcher/scholar, which for me means I utilize research and theory to inform applied work and to help people create more productive relationships.  I started out my research career focused on conflict; looking at how people managed it in their own lives and how others participated in that process of management, i.e., third party intervention. For the past almost 30 years, I have focused on the “dark side” of work relationships, specifically workplace bullying and emotional abuse.  I have been driven by two broad questions: 1) why does workplace bullying/emotional abuse exist and particularly, why does it persist, i.e., what fuels and sustains these damaging interactions –micro, meso, and macro influences? and 2) how can this knowledge of “why” be leveraged to constructively address it? In the past 12 years, I have focused on bullying within academia. I have also started examining bullying in seniors’ communities, all with an eye as to ways to address and ameliorate these situations.

I came to the study of workplace bullying and emotional abuse because a friend described a situation at work that I could neither explain nor offer any helpful suggestions, given my limited understanding at the time.  What I was hearing was not just a conflict situation but something much more one-sided, harsh, relentless and abusive. That one experience informed my current research career.

I have seen a shift societally in recognizing that bullying occurs in a variety of contexts and that bullying is fundamentally dramatic and traumatic in its effects . More specifically, there is a recognition that some populations may be more vulnerable and require particular attention. For example, women, BIPOC people, those with disabilities, and the elderly are bullied more frequently than others. That is, bullying is not status-blind: being different is a notable risk for harm. Bullying research needs to connect more deeply with the work and writing concerning mistreatment of marginalized groups rather than operating in isolation. This means taking a socio-structural approach, beyond the boundaries of the organization, the school, the community, or the country. I would like to continue to draw those connections for others and encourage them to dig deeper and then translate it into everyday life and actions.

So many books and papers…so little time. One that still resonates with me is by Ann Donnellon and Deborah M. Kolb (1994) Constructive for whom? The fate of diversity disputes in organizations. In this piece, these authors laid bare how then extant discourses of organizational conflict management failed to acknowledge that many conflicts in organizations are rooted in and fueled by differences in class, gender, race, and ethnicity. In essence the approaches I had come to cherish for thinking about and addressing conflict could in effect mask these fundamental intergroup and systemic issues, leaving the status quo unexamined, not challenged and people harmed. Asking and answering the question of any conflict  “are social group differences involved here?” opens eyes and the possibilities of genuine, constructive engagement. It was one of the tools I taught students in our WSU MA in Dispute Resolution program. I still ask and seek answers to this question in my work and daily life.

What an interesting question. I have a few, none of them though are scientists. I will talk about two: one is real and the other fictional. The “real” one is my mother, who raised six children often on her own as my father was working in the high arctic for months at a time. She had feminist ideals in the 50’s and 60’s when the times were not amenable to that. She thoroughly believed in the preciousness and value of each person and each living being. She believed in the power of education so all 6 of us went on to university. She likes to joke that she earned 6 degrees, because she helped us study, bolstered us when we were discouraged, and celebrated when we overcame a hurdle.  She is funny, smart, persistent, and accepts people where they are.  The other role model, is Jessica Fletcher of Murder, She Wrote. Down to earth, smart, curious, stands up for what is right, and understands and loves people…like my mom. 

I love to read murder mysteries, something I picked up from my mom who was a voracious reader. I also do mosaic tiles and knitting occasionally. I particularly love just hanging out with my family and friends.  I am also having fun thinking about the next step as I contemplate retirement in the coming years.