Stephanie Merritt

Dr. Stephanie Merritt is a Professor in the Global Leadership and Management Department at the Ed G. Smith College of Business, University of Missouri–St. Louis. With a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Michigan State University (2007), her research bridges workplace behavior, human-automation interaction, and student retention. She has held prior faculty roles in the Department of Psychological Sciences and continues to lead interdisciplinary research projects.

• Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Michigan State University (2007)
• M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Michigan State University (2005)
• B.S. and B.A. in Psychology, Truman State University (2002)

Dr. Merritt’s research focuses on implicit attitudes and their impact on organizational behavior, including employee turnover, trust in automation, and college student retention. Her methodological expertise spans structural equation modeling, multilevel analysis, and survey development, emphasizing rigorous measurement and data analysis. Her work often explores diversity and inclusion in organizational contexts.

Her recent publications (2023–2025) highlight trends in gender bias in evaluation, automation-induced complacency, and social pain as a driver of turnover. These articles emphasize cross-disciplinary applications of psychology to business and technology challenges.

• Global Leadership and Management Research Impact Award (2024)
• Anheuser-Busch Teaching Award - Graduate Track (2022)
• Finalist - Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Prize (2014)
• Best Paper Published in Human Factors (2008)

Dr. Merritt chairs doctoral committees and has supervised 8 completed PhDs in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Her professional activities include human-automation trust research and consulting roles. She teaches courses such as Organizational Behavior (MGMT 3600) and Qualitative Methods I (BUS AD 7102).