Rellie Derfler-Rozin

Rellie Derfler-Rozin is a Professor of Management & Organization at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, and serves as Academic Director for the Master in Management Studies (MiM) and Online Master in Management Studies (OMiM) programs. She holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior from London Business School. Her research focuses on how social contexts influence employee decision-making, particularly addressing behavioral ethics, selection biases, and belongingness needs. She employs multi-method approaches including field surveys, experiments, and archival data analysis.

Research Interests:

• Behavioral Ethics: Examines ethical dilemmas in organizational settings and their impact on hiring practices and employee behavior.
• Selection Decisions and Biases: Analyzes cognitive and social biases in recruitment and team formation processes.
• Belongingness Needs: Explores how social exclusion risks and status dynamics affect workplace interactions and outcomes.

Her work bridges psychological theories with organizational challenges, aiming to improve workplace well-being and organizational success. Notable contributions include studies on mentor-protégé dynamics, managerial territoriality, and ethical leadership’s role in fostering creativity.

Media and Outreach: She has been featured on TEDx and WNYC for discussions on hiring ethics and salary negotiations. Over 20,000 learners have participated in her AI and Career Empowerment course, emphasizing experiential learning and real-world client collaboration.

Academic Leadership: She serves as Associate Editor for Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes and actively contributes to curriculum development and professional training programs.