About
Evan Apfelbaum is a Professor of Management & Organizations at Boston University's Questrom School of Business, previously holding positions as W. Maurice Young Career Development Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management and Team and Group Research Fellow at Northwestern University's Kellogg School. His academic career bridges social psychology and organizational behavior with a focus on evidence-based approaches to workplace dynamics.
Educational background:
- B.S. in Psychology and Music from Union College
- Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Tufts University
Apfelbaum's research centers on diversity, inclusion, and intergroup relations within organizational contexts, examining how racial and gender biases manifest in workplaces through field experiments and longitudinal studies. He investigates the psychological mechanisms behind diversity initiatives, social norms in racially diverse environments, and transparency in reporting diversity metrics, consistently translating theoretical insights into practical business applications for fostering equitable workplaces.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2017-2024) reveals a cohesive trajectory examining diversity transparency, barriers to gender equality, and multiculturalism effects across multiple organizational settings. His work demonstrates methodological rigor through field experiments in real business environments, with increasing focus on data-driven interventions and longitudinal impacts of diversity initiatives in corporate contexts.
Major recognitions include:
- Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize
- James H. Ferry Jr. Grant for Innovation in Research
- Early Researcher Award from the American Psychological Association
- Top 40 Business Professors Under 40 by Poets & Quants
Apfelbaum's research has secured significant funding including the James H. Ferry Jr. Grant, supporting innovative field studies on diversity interventions. While specific student advisees aren't listed, his collaborative publications with junior researchers across institutions indicate active mentorship. His work frequently involves cross-institutional teams examining large-scale diversity initiatives in corporate environments.
As former Team and Group Research Fellow at Kellogg School of Management, Apfelbaum contributed to group dynamics research infrastructure. At Boston University, he participates in Questrom School's organizational behavior research ecosystem, focusing on experimental approaches to diversity challenges though no dedicated laboratory is specified in current materials.
