People

Faculty

Dr. Rachel Ruttan

Rachel Ruttan is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Rotman. She received her PhD in Management and Organizations from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Her research examines the factors that facilitate versus undermine interpersonal compassion, and the consequences of organizational attempts to “do well by doing good.” Her research has been published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Organization Science, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Her work has been profiled in The New York Times, NPR, and The Harvard Business Review.

University of Toronto Page → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/2428-rachel-ruttan

Journal Articles → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/2428-rachel-ruttan/publications

Google Scholar → https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=82tXuK0AAAAJ&hl=en

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-ruttan-56282b210/

Dr. Katherine (Katy) DeCelles

Katherine (Katy) DeCelles is a Professor of Organizational Behavior and Academic Director of PhD Program at Rotman, and cross-appointed to the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto. She also holds the Secretary of State Professorship in Organizational Effectiveness. Katy’s research is on understanding the micro-mechanisms involved in conflict, emotion, morality, inequality, and crime, and has been published in outlets including Administrative Science Quarterly, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Psychological Science, and the Academy of Management Review. Her research has been highlighted in outlets such as the Smithsonian Magazine, Science Magazine, BBC, CNN, and The New York Times. Katy's research has received awards from the Academy of Management and American Sociological Association, and she has been recognized for her MBA teaching by Poets & Quants (2018). Katy served as an Associate Editor for the Academy of Management Journal from 2016-2019 and as the Deputy Editor (Micro) for the Academy of Management Journal from 2019-2021. In 2024-2025, she will hold the Inagural VMWare Women's Leadership Innovation Lab fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University (CASBS)

University of Toronto Page → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/14077-katherine-decelles

Journal Articles → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/14077-katherine-decelles/publications

Google Scholar → https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=CiV6MkIAAAAJ&hl=en

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-decelles-21a5125/

Dr. Matthew Feinberg

Matthew Feinberg is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour, and PhD Coordinator of OBHRM Area at Rotman. He earned his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. His research explores the underlying psychological processes that lead individuals to join together to form cohesive groups, organizations, and societies, with a particular focus on morality and political attitudes. Matthew’s research has been published in journals such as Psychological Science, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Emotion, and Political Psychology. His work has been covered by various media outlets including The Washington Post, New York Times, Reuters, Fox News, Scientific American, Al Jazeera, CBS News, USA Today, WebMD, National Geographic, Huffington Post, and San Francisco Chronicle.

University of Toronto Page → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/15516-matthew-feinberg

Journal Articles → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/15516-matthew-feinberg/publications

Google Scholar → https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Abm0wIsAAAAJ&hl=en

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-feinberg-98193b3a/

Dr. George Newman

George E. Newman is a psychologist and cognitive scientist who studies creativity, identity, and the construction of meaning. He is an Associate Professor of Management and Marketing at the Rotman School of Management. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor of Management and Marketing at the Yale School of Management, where also held affiliated appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale University. He has published more than 60 articles in leading scholarly journals and his research has been featured in popular media outlets such as the New York Times, Scientific American, the Wall Street Journal, and the Economist. He regularly leads seminars on various marketing and management topics for senior executives.

University of Toronto Page → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/42886-george-newman

Journal Articles → https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/42886-george-newman/publications

Google Scholar → https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=3Exv3SEAAAAJ&hl=en

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-newman-75467951/

Graduate Students

Daniel Chiacchia

Daniel is a PhD Candidate of Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management at the University of Toronto. His research investigates the strategies that people use to navigate difficult conversations in organizational contexts. Specifically, Daniel’s work focuses on emotionally salient interactions and events, such as expressions of compassion, communicating solutions to organizational friction, and the delivery of negative feedback.

Joined May 2021

Email → daniel.chiacchia@rotman.utoronto.ca

Google Scholar → https://shorturl.at/KbovU

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-chiacchia-184b93140/

Demetrius Humes

Zhengpeng (Matt) Wang

Matt is a PhD student in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on morality and ethics, social interactions, and relationships.

Joined September 2023

Email → zhengpeng.wang@rotman.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhengpeng-wang/

Kuan Su

Kuan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Rotman School of Management and a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto Mississauga. Her current research examines the nuanced effects of diversity language in organizational communications, such as job advertisements and diversity statements. It investigates how well-intended language, like “welcoming,” may inadvertently perpetuate gender inequalities and undermine organizations’ efforts to achieve an equitable workplace.

Joined September 2022

Email → kuan.su@rotman.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuansu97/

Grusha Agarwal

Xue (Sunny) Xiang

Sunny is a PhD Candidate of Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management at the University of Toronto. Her research involves exploring how narratives can drive cultural change, with focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as mental health and wellness. An essential aspect Sunny wishes to explore is the role of middle managers in facilitating this cultural change process. Sunny is the recipient of the Rotman Commerce Director's Award for Academic Excellence, and the Best Paper Distinction from the Academy of Management's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Division for her paper Language of Change: Building an Inclusive Culture Through Diversity Rhetoric and Narrative.

Joined July 2019

ORCID → https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3882-9305

Email → xue.xiang@rotman.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/xue-sunny-xiang/

Postdoctoral Fellows

Chloe Kovacheff

Chloe is a Postdoctoral fellow at the Rotman School of Management. Her research focuses on social issues, inequality, morality, invisible disabilities, and social responsibility. Chloe is the recipient of, among others, the 2024 SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scholarship, the 2023 Responsible Research in Business and Management - Dare to Care Award, and the 2021 Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics Grant.

Joined September 2016

Website → chloekovacheff.com

Email → chloe.kovacheff@rotman.utoronto.ca

Google Scholar → https://tinyurl.com/chloekovacheff

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-kovacheff-845780a3/

Samantha Kassirer

Samantha is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in Marketing and Organizational Behaviour (jointly appointed) at Toronto Rotman. She studies questions that touch on global poverty & inequality, prosociality, and moral psychology. Samantha was a Global Impacts Graduate Fellow with the Buffett Institute at Northwestern University from 2023-2024 and a 2023 Global Priorities Research Fellow at Oxford University's Global Priorities Institute (GPI). Additionally, she was the winner of Oxford's GPI 2023 Fellowship Paper Prize.

Joined September 2024

Website → https://sites.northwestern.edu/samanthakassirer/

Email → samantha.kassirer@gmail.com

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-kassirer-0022901a9/

Claire Robertson

Claire is a postdoctoral researcher, appointed jointly in the Social Identity and Morality Lab at NYU and at the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto. Her research focuses on intergroup conflict, in particular on political polarization. In two interconnected lines of research, she examines how basic social processes interact with technology to distort social perceptions, leading people to misperceive an overly negative, polarized, and extreme world.

Joined September 2024

Email → c.robertson@nyu.edu

Google Scholar → https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=U86vr3EAAAAJ&hl=en

Lab Alumni

Nikolay Yadav, former lab manager
Miya Draga, former PhD student - Postdoctoral Associate, Harvard Business School
Siyin Chen, former PhD student - Assistant Professor, HKUST
Aidan Bell, former lab manager - KPMG Canada
Greg Depow, former PhD student - Postdoctoral Associate, UCSD

Lab Manager

Martin Shanahan

Martin is an oncoming fourth-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Management with focuses in Finance and Strategy. He has long been interested in the field of behavioral psychology, and particularly its applications in commerce and everyday life.

Joined May 2024

Email → martin.shanahan@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-shanahan-961428255/

Research Assistants

Krish Goyal

Krish is a fourth-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Finance and Economics with a focus in Data Science.

Joined May 2024

Email → krish.goyal@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/krishhgoyall

Ana Mayer

Ana is a third-year Computer Science Specialist student with minors in Statistics and Business, Science, and Entrepreneurship.

Joined May 2024

Email → ana.mayer@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-mayer-3966a11a6/

Joshua Crisologo

Joshua is a second-year Statistics Specialist student with a major in Computer Science. He is interested in using data science and machine learning concepts to analyze trends in behavioural psychology.

Joined May 2024

Email → joshua.crisologo@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-crisologo

Pearl Chen

Pearl is a second-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Management with focuses in marketing and data science.

Joined January 2025

Email → pearl.chen@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/pearlchen1126/

Meghan Yeung

Meghan is a third-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Management with a Minor is Psychology and focuses in Data Science, Strategy, and Marketing. Meghan is a behavioral science enthusiast and has been researching in this field for over two years at Rotman and at BEAR. She is interested in a career in the applied behavioral sciences and has co-authored the article, The Elements of Context, a guide for practitioners and academics.

Joined September 2024

Email → meghan.yeung@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-yeung

Yik Hin Duncan Wan

Duncan is a second-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in management with a major in economics. He is eager to understand the intersections between management, social behavior, and DEI and reach data-driven conclusions.

Joined September 2024

Email → duncan.wan04@gmail.com

LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-w-46829618b

Neil Sicheng Li

Neil is a second-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Finance and Economics with focus in Data Science. He is eager to explore Organizational Behavior and its real-world application in the workplace to drive competitive advantage.

Joined January 2025
Email: → neilsicheng.li@mail.utoronto.ca
LinkedIn →
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sicheng-li-54003a299/

Krishni Thivakar

Krishni Thivakar is a second-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Finance and Economics. She is passionate about OB research, particularly in negotiations and decision-making. Through her experiences in pro-bono consulting and market research, she has developed a strong interest in how behavioral science applies to financial and corporate settings. She is excited to deepen her understanding of social influence and ethical decision-making in organizations.

Joined February 2025
Email → krishni.thivakar@mail.utoronto.ca
LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/krishni-thivakar

Olivia Chen

Olivia is an incoming fourth-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Finance and Economics with a focus in Data Science.

Joined March 2025

Email → oliviaxy.chen@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-chen-377892203/

Karissa Cruz

Karissa is a third-year Political Science Specialist student. She is interested in researching how political events influence public perception and discourse, drawing on her experience analyzing international cooperation through the G7 and G20 Research Groups. Her studies explore the theoretical implications of international relations and the visible impacts of policymaking on issues of justice, progress, and institutional change.

Joined April 2025

Email → karissa.cruz@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissa-cruz/A

Rayaan Basit

Rayaan is an incoming third-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Management with focuses in Finance and Data Science.

Joined April 2025
Email: → rayaan.basit@mail.utoronto.ca
LinkedIn →
www.linkedin.com/in/rayaanbasit

Grace Deng

Grace is a third-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Management with a focus in Strategy and Innovation. She is interested in behavioral science, consumer psychology, and organizational research, and brings experience in consulting, market analysis, and data-driven research.

Joined April 2025
Email → g.deng@mail.utoronto.ca
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-deng-22116b259

Crystal Kan

Crystal is a third-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Accounting.

Joined April 2025

Email → crystal.kan@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuchuncrystalkan/

Ayesha Siddiqui

Ayesha is an incoming fourth year student majoring in History and English.

Joined May 2025

Email → ayeshaa.siddiqui@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayesha-siddiqui-8b2427255/

Yi-Sin Fang

Elaine is an incoming third-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Management with a minor in Economics. She is passionate about understanding how personality influences behavior in social settings and the workplace.

Joined May 2025

Email → elaine.fang@mail.utoronto.ca

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainfang9896

Katherine Salinger

Katherine is an incoming first-year Honors student at Los Angeles Mission College, majoring in Philosophy. A nontraditional student, she brings over 15 years of experience in political and community organizing. Her research interests include bioethics, human rights, and public policy.

Joined May 2025

Email → salingkl3576@student.laccd.edu

LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/ksalinger

Sarah Arale

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