Michael Christian

Michael Christian is a Professor of Organizational Behavior and Bell Distinguished Scholar at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina. He serves as Area Chair of Organizational Behavior and Associate Dean of the PhD Program. His research focuses on the mind-body connection at work, examining how somatic states like sleep, pain, and mindfulness influence ethical behavior, self-control, and work engagement. He holds adjunct roles in Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Education:

• PhD in Management (2010), University of Arizona
• MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (2006), Tulane University
• BA in Psychology & Sociology (1998), University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests: Dr. Christian explores how physical states (e.g., sleep deprivation, pain) and psychological interventions (e.g., mindfulness) affect workplace ethics and performance. His work bridges organizational behavior, health science, and ethics, with notable studies on the 'slippery slope' of unethical behavior and the role of caffeine in mitigating unethical tendencies.

Awards & Grants:

• NSF and John Templeton Foundation grants
• Selected as an APS 'Rising Star' (2015)
• Poets&Quants 'Best 40 Under 40 Professors' (2015)

Teaching & Leadership: Teaches courses on leadership, teams, and organizational behavior at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Co-developed experiential leadership capstone courses, emphasizing real-world problem-solving and adaptability.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Organizational Behavior research team at Kenan-Flagler, fostering collaborative inquiry into workplace dynamics and ethical decision-making.