Dr. Wendy Becker

Professor of Management, Management / Marketing / Entrepreneurship Department

Visiting Professor, MCI Management Law Center, Innsbruck, Austria

Academic Degrees 

• PhD. Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
• Master of Science, Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
• Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Penn State University (Highest Honors)  

Research & Teaching Areas

• Research Interests: Experiential learning, managerial development, qualitative research methodology, leadership, motivation theory.
• Teaching Areas: Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Business Ethics, Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior.  

Journal Publications

• Becker, W. S. (2023). You need to pick the pilot:  Employee training in risky operations. In SAGE Business Cases. SAGE Publications: SAGE Business Cases Originals.
• Becker, W. S., & Dale, W. M. (2021). The real CSI: Retention of key employees in the crime lab. Journal of Human Resources Education, 15, 1, 1-9.
• Hargrove, M. B., Hargrove, D. F., & Becker, W. S. (2016). Managing stress: Human resource management interventions in distress and eustress. Journal of Human Resources Education, 10, 25-38.
• Hargrove, M. B., Becker, W. S., & Hargrove, D. F. (2015). The HR eustress model: Creating work challenge through positive stress. Human Resource Development Review, 14(3), 279-298.
• Becker, W. S., & Burke, M. J. (2014). Instructional staff rides for management learning and education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 13, 4, 510-524.
• Becker, W. S., Catanio, J. T., & Bailey, A. E. (2014). Incivility at work: A project management case involving workplace bullying. Journal of Human Resources Education, 8, 2/3, 20-31.
• Becker, W. S. (2014). Cultural agility: Building a pipeline of successful global professionals [Review]. Personnel Psychology, 67, 1, 526-529.       
• Kowalski, M., & Becker, W. S. (2014). A developing profession: Muslim chaplains in American public life. Contemporary Islam. 9, 17-44.
• Becker, W. S. (2013). Starting new team operations: Lessons from greenfield managers. Team Performance Management. 19, 1/2, 72-86.
• Becker, W. S., & Burke, M. J. (2012). The staff ride: An approach to qualitative data generation and analysis. Organizational Research Methods, 15, 2, 316-335.  
• Becker, W. S. (2011). Are you leading a socially responsible and sustainable human resource function? People & Strategy, 34, 1, 18-23.
• Becker, W. S., Carbo, J. A.  II, Esq., & Langella, I. M. (2010). Beyond self-interest: Integrating social responsibility and supply chain management with human resource development.  Human Resource Development Review, 9, 2, 144-168. 
• Becker, W. S., Dale, W. M., & Pavur, E. J. Jr. (2010). Forensic science in transition: Critical leadership challenges. Forensic Science Policy & Management: An International Journal, 1, 1-10.
• Becker, W. S. (2010). Ethics and human resources: An exercise involving new employees.  Journal of Human Resource Education, 4, 4, 26-34.  
• Becker, W. S. (2007). Missed opportunities and the Great Bear Wilderness Disaster. Organizational Dynamics, 36, 4, 363-376.

Textbooks

• Dale, W. M. & Becker, W. S. (2014). Applying Business Principles to Forensic Laboratory Management. NYC: Taylor & Francis. CRC Press.
• Dale, W. M. & Becker, W. S. (2007).  The Crime Scene: How Forensic Science Works. NYC: Kaplan Publishing.

Academic Presentations and Invited Talks

• Becker, W. S., Burke, M. J., & Kayes, D. C. (2017). Learning through organizational crisis and disaster. Symposium submitted to the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, Atlanta, GA.
• Becker, W. S., & Coombs, A. (2017). Analysis of the Butte Staff Ride. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, NY.
• Becker, W. S., & Hanson, C. (2016). Use of an immersive exercise to increase student awareness of risky decision-making. Paper presented at the annual meeting Eastern Psychological Association, New York, NY.
• Becker, W. S. (2015). Increasing student awareness of risky decision-making. Paper presented at the Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business Administration (MAACBA) conference, Bolton Landing, NY.
• Becker, W. S., & Burke, M. J. (2015). Increasing student engagement in management education.  Paper presented at the Southern Academy of Management, St. Pete Beach, FL.
• Becker, W. S. (2015). Keynote speaker. Risk management workshop: CalPers Case Study. Washington State Investment Board, Seattle, WA.
• Hargrove, M. B., Becker, W. S., & Quick, J. (2015). The curvilinear relationship between ethical arousal and ethical performance. 75^thannual meeting of the Academy of Management, Vancouver, CA.
• Becker, W. S., Catanio, J. T., & Leibensperger, C., (2015). Effectiveness of target response to workplace bullying. Eastern Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA. 
• Leibensperger, C., Becker, W. S., & Catanio, J. T. (2015). Target response to workplace bullying: Results from a national and student survey. Minds@Work conference, Shippensburg, PA.
• Becker, W. S. (2015). Increasing student engagement: The historic military staff ride. 26^th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
• Becker, W. S., & Burke, M. J. (2014). The staff ride: A new (old) method for connecting management research and practice. Midwest Academy of Management, Minneapolis, MN. 
• Becker, W. S. (2014). The staff ride: A new approach to qualitative research. In, Conducting qualitative research: Methodologies and strategies for I/O psychologists. Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Honolulu, HI. 
• Becker, W. S. (2014). Keynote speaker, Risk Management. New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS).
• Becker, W. S. & Burke, M. J. (2013). Extending the Staff Ride for Qualitative Research in Organizational Psychology. European Association f Work and Organizational Psychology, Münster, Germany.
• Becker, W. S. & Burke, M. J. (2013). Master Tutorial. Qualitative investigation of context: The staff ride for research and practice. Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Houston, TX. [Selected as program exemplar for 2014].

SELECT Honors and Awards 

• Editor’s Choice Award 2023. ‘You need to pick the pilot: Employee selection and training in risky operations,’ Sage Business Cases.
• Interviewed March 20, 2020 in Lab Manager, ‘Managing Your Lab Amid COVID-19.’
• Elected Fellow, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (2015). 
• Recipient, Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Technology, 26^th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning (2015). 
• President, Executive Board, Metropolitan New York Association of Applied Psychology, elected (2015-2016). 
• Academy of Management Organizations and the Natural Environment Division’s Book Award, “Green Organizations: Driving Change with I-O Psychology” (2014, with co-authors).
•  Teaching Innovation and Pedagogy Spotlight (TIPS) Award, Shippensburg University (2014). 
• Recipient, Research Excellence Award, Academy of Human Resource Development (2010, with co-authors).
• Editor, The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist (2007-2010). 
• Recipient, Teaching and Research Awards, College of Business, Shippensburg University (2008-2014). 
• Recipient, Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, State University of New York (2007). 
• Recipient, Newman Dissertation Award, Academy of Management (2000).