Diversity Resistance in Organizations

Kecia M. Thomas is a professor of Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology at the University of Georgia (UGA) as well as the founding director of the Center for Research and Engagement in Diversity (RED). Kecia's work focuses on understanding systems of privilege and resistance that limit the career development of women, people of color, and gay and lesbian workers, as well as those behaviors and practices that create and sustain hostile or hospitable climates for diversity and inclusion. She is author of Diversity Dynamics (Wadsworth-Thomson) the first I/O Psychology textbook on workplace diversity, and over 35 academic articles and book chapters. In addition to editing Diversity Resistance (LEA-Taylor Francis), she and Karen Proudford also edited a special issue of the Journal of Career Development on Black women as Organizational Outsiders within. She has successfully served as a mentor and major professor to 13 Ph.D.s who now teach, research, or who engage in practice related to workplace diversity. Her own diversity practice, through RED, has enabled her to contribute to the diversity missions of institutions such as Middle Tennessee State University, BellSouth, Wofford College, the Cincinnati Children's Hospital medical Center, the Dallas Independent School District (TX), Rice University, the American Cancer Society, and the White County School District (GA). She is a member of the leadership collective of Nag's Heart and a graduate of the HERS Management Institute at Wellesley College. Dr. Thomas earned a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA), and her M.S. and Ph.D. in I/O Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA). She and her partner Darren Rhym have a son and a daughter, Chad and Jordan Rhym.