Nicole Stephens

Nicole Stephens is the Jeanne Brett Chair in Negotiations and a Professor of Management & Organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. She also holds a courtesy appointment as a Professor of Psychology in the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences. Her interdisciplinary work bridges social and cultural psychology with organizational behavior to address systemic inequalities.

• PhD, Social Psychology, Stanford University (2010)
• MA, Social Psychology, Stanford University (2007)
• BA, Psychology, Williams College (2002)

Her research focuses on how social class, race, ethnicity, and gender shape life experiences and outcomes. Key themes include cultural mismatch in education, interventions to reduce disparities, and systemic inequality in organizations. She examines the role of cultural assumptions in perpetuating inequality and develops strategies to foster inclusivity.

Recent work emphasizes social class dynamics in workplace behavior, equity-focused interventions in higher education, and the pandemic's impact on inequality. Trends include collaborations on cross-group interactions, psychological barriers to achievement, and evidence-based diversity strategies.

• Kabiller Science of Empathy Prize
• Otto Klineberg Intercultural and International Relations Award
• Wheeler Institute Award
• APA Early Career Contribution (Social Psychology)
• Israel Organizational Behavior Conference Best Paper Award
• Louise Kidder Early Career Award
• Stanley Reiter Best Paper Award

She is affiliated with the Bias Interrupters Working Group, Harvard Higher Education Leaders Forum, and Mindset Scholars Network. Her teaching covers negotiation strategy, bias reduction, inclusive teaching, and DEI implementation in organizations.