Rowena Blokker

Rowena Blokker is an External PhD Candidate at the Department of Management and Organisation, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her research focuses on school-to-work transitions, career shocks, and employability. She holds a Research Master’s (cum laude) in Social and Organizational Psychology from Leiden University and a Bachelor’s in Work and Organizational Psychology from the University of Amsterdam.

Her work examines factors influencing early career development, including longitudinal studies on Master’s students and young professionals. She has published in journals like Journal of Vocational Behavior and contributes to academic success initiatives through platforms like pHResh board and ABRI PhD council. Rowena teaches courses in HRM, Organizational Behavior, and academic skills across multiple programs, supervising 40+ theses and 3 internships.

Her research highlights career shocks’ impact on employability and proposes sustainable career frameworks for transitioning graduates. Collaborations include projects with the Postgraduate Accounting Program (PGO) and Dutch knowledge platforms.