A Comprehensive Understanding

Bauer Associate Professor Awarded Grant from
National Science Foundation

By Julie Bonnin
Published on January 22, 2024

Organizational psychologist Enrica Ruggs, an associate professor in the Department of Management & Leadership at the C. T. Bauer College of Business, has been awarded a collaborative research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a project designed to create a better understanding of specific factors that influence the psychological safety of racial minority women at work.

Ruggs, an expert in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and workplace discrimination, said there has been steady documentation of the benefits of psychological safety for organizations and employees, but without much consideration of the unique needs of socially disadvantaged groups such as racial minorities and/or women.

Enrica Ruggs, Organizational Psychologist and Associate Professor, Management & Leadership

Enrica Ruggs, Organizational Psychologist and Associate Professor, Management & Leadership

“The workforce has become increasingly diverse in terms of race and gender,” she said. “Our aim is to build a more comprehensive understanding of the specific contextual factors that impact the psychological safety of racial minority women at work, with the broader goal of improving historically marginalized employees’ work lives and helping organizations to retain top diverse talent.”

The NSF project will include in-depth interviews with employees and managers whose employees identify as having made them feel psychologically safe in the past. Based on those findings, the researchers will design, implement and evaluate interventions that train managers to cultivate positive work environments that enhance psychological safety and support employees, especially racial minority women.

The NSF award extends across three years and offers the opportunity to hire a postdoctoral student within the Department of Management & Leadership at Bauer College. Ruggs is collaborating with researchers at The University of Memphis and San Diego State University.