Meet the Faculty at Adler University
Lucy Jdanova, Ph.D. – Professor for Adler University’s Industrial and Organizational Psychology programs on our Vancouver campus
Education: Ph.D., Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Wayne State University
Research Interests: I am interested in the impact of organizational and psychological climate on organizational level (e.g., hospital-level) and individual level (e.g., job attitudes) outcomes. My specific research on work-family conflict examines coping strategies, as well as the positive effects of involvement in work and family domains. Secondary research interests include person-environment fit and justice perceptions.
Question: What are some of the courses you teach at Adler University, and what can students expect to learn?
Dr. Jdanova: I am passionate about teaching research methods and statistics courses to introduce students to the wonders of the research process. As such, I primarily teach technical courses that equip students with the knowledge and skills to understand scientific research and translate it to practical recommendations. Students have an opportunity to practice statistical analyses on an organizational data set, where they analyze the data, write a report, and present the results and recommendations to the senior management team at an organization.
Q: What social justice issues are you passionate about?
Dr. Jdanova: My experiences of living in several countries and conducting research on justice have alerted me to insufficient and unfair distribution of resources that systemically and negatively impacts some vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. The outcomes include, but are not limited to, poverty, hunger, physical and mental health concerns, homelessness, and lack of stable employment. My goal is to help students to recognize these issues and to address them in their work as industrial and organizational psychology professionals.
As an industrial and organizational psychologist, I am also attuned to the issues of unhappiness in the workplace. The levels of work stress among employees are troubling; the lack of purpose and joy in the workforce is concerning. Spending hours working in a joyless environment, while away from family, friends, and things people enjoy, negatively impacts their physical and mental health. That is why my work and research is also focused on helping organizations create an environment conducive to happiness, engagement, and work-life balance.
Q: What do you do outside the classroom?
Dr. Jdanova: To relax and enjoy life to the fullest, I spend quality time with my family. I am very fortunate to have a family that shares my passion for good food, laughter, travel, nature, great books, and skiing.
Q: What about Adler University resonated with you?
Dr. Jdanova: I was drawn to Adler’s experiential approach to training socially responsibly practitioners. The opportunities to learn and practice social responsibility are integrated at all the levels of the University, and the mission encourages me to mindfully approach readings and assignments to further the impact of students on the community.
To learn more about our Industrial and Organizational Psychology programs, contact our Admissions team or fill out the “Request Information” form today!