Lisa H. Nishii

Lisa H. Nishii is a Professor at the ILR School, Cornell University, and serves as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland and a B.A. in Economics from Wellesley College.

• Education: Ph.D. & M.A., Organizational Psychology (University of Maryland); B.A., Economics (Wellesley College)

Nishii specializes in organizational inclusion, examining how leadership behaviors, HR practices, and diversity climates impact workplace outcomes. Her research spans multi-level analyses across federally funded projects, focusing on:

• Leadership strategies for inclusive climates
• Impact of diversity on creativity and performance
• HR practices for reducing discrimination
• Workplace dynamics for employees with disabilities
• Cultural influences on organizational behavior

Her recent publications (2025) address diversity climate synthesis, leader training interventions, and inclusion metrics. Earlier work (2006–2016) explores personality traits in workplace performance, cultural tightness-looseness, and disability accommodation frameworks.

• Key Awards:
  • Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize (2012)
  • Kendall S. Carpenter Memorial Advising Award (2025)
  • Wallace Reins Best Dissertation Award (2025)
  • MacIntyre Award for Exemplary Teaching (2025)

She chairs the Academy of Management’s Gender and Diversity in Organizations Division and leads Cornell’s International Programs. Her consulting work focuses on diversity, inclusion, and organizational assessment for multinational companies.