Derek R. Avery

Derek R. Avery is Professor and the C. T. Bauer Chair of Inclusive Leadership at the C. T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston. He is affiliated with the Department of Management & Leadership and is a leading scholar in workforce diversity and inclusive leadership. His research has been published in premier journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, and Organization Science.

• Ph.D. and M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology – Rice University
• B.S. – Tulane University

Dr. Avery’s research focuses on workplace diversity, diversity climate, inclusive leadership, and organizational justice. His work examines how diverse workforces affect employee engagement, performance, turnover, and customer satisfaction. He investigates mechanisms through which inclusive environments reduce discrimination and enhance team effectiveness. His scholarship bridges psychological theory with organizational practice, influencing HR policies and leadership development.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in meta-analytic and empirical studies on diversity, particularly racioethnic, gender, and age diversity. His work emphasizes the role of climate and leadership in shaping equitable outcomes, with subfields including negotiation bias, team creativity, cognitive diversity in leadership, and presenteeism. The interdisciplinary nature spans organizational psychology, management, and social justice.

Dr. Avery has received significant recognition for his contributions:

• Fellow, Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology (SIOP)
• Fellow, Association for Psychological Science
• Commendation from the Academy of Management

He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Business and Psychology and is the Diversity & Inclusion Officer for SIOP. He has advised on numerous editorial boards and contributes to advancing scholarship in diversity and inclusion. His teaching includes doctoral seminars in HR and management research, as well as MBA and undergraduate courses in workforce diversity and inclusive leadership.

Dr. Avery is actively involved in the Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology and the Academy of Management. He leads initiatives to promote equity in organizational science and supports research that addresses systemic biases in the workplace. His current work continues to explore the structural and interpersonal dynamics that foster inclusive organizations.