Meet the Team!
Lab DirectorDr. Yisheng PengDr. Yisheng Peng is an assistant professor in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Program at George Washington University. Prior to this appointment, he was a tenure-track assistant professor at the Department of Psychology at Hofstra University. He received his Ph.D degree with dual training in both Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Developmental Psychology at Bowling Green State University in 2017.
His first line of research focuses on aging and various work behaviors (e.g., workplace deviance, proactive work behaviors), aging and leadership, and eldercare issues. His recent project funded by CEIBS (Chinese Europe International Business School) seeks to examine the mechanisms underlying the relationship between employee age and proactive work behavior, with an emphasis on job characteristics that are particularly important for older employees. His second line of research focuses on the impacts of social work environment (e.g., interpersonal mistreatment, emotional labor) on employees’ well-being and work outcomes. His early research on emotional labor and workplace incivility has been funded by NIOSH pilot training program. His recent research examines non-traditional stressors at work (e.g., illegitimate tasks, performance pressure), with an emphasis on understanding the within person-level processes. Fun Fact: I cannot call the right name of different colors (weird thing). |
Graduate Students
Lexi Rosenblatt (4th year)Lexi Rosenblatt joined the Industrial Organizational Psychology doctoral program at GWU after graduating from Furman University in 2020 with a BA in Psychology and Chinese Studies. She completed a psychology internship in China in the fall of 2018, and worked on a research project on technology and employee well-being in the summer of 2018 which sparked an interest in different workplace cultures and dynamics around the world. Her research interests include diversity and discrimination in the workplace. In her free time, Lexi loves playing board games, traveling and baking. Fun Fact: Alexa's grandparents changed their identity after the Holocaust, so Rosenblatt technically isn't her real last name! |
Anthony Ferroni (2nd year)
Anthony Ferroni joined the Industrial Organizational Psychology Doctoral program in 2022 after obtaining an Associates of Science in Psychology at Delaware County Community College followed by a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, minoring in Human Resource Management at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. During a 3.5 year service as a volunteer firefighter for West Grove Fire Company, Anthony became interested in the application of psychological
concepts to organizations and the workplace in how we can benefit and better understand organizations and its members. Anthony is particularly interested in areas of occupational stress and employee wellbeing as it relates to organizational outcomes. Coming from rural Pennsylvania to Washington DC, Anthony feels at home as a history buff in the nation’s capital. In his spare time he likes to cook, bake, watch documentaries, and train recreational boxing/ mixed martial arts.
Fun Fact: Anthony is left-handed.
concepts to organizations and the workplace in how we can benefit and better understand organizations and its members. Anthony is particularly interested in areas of occupational stress and employee wellbeing as it relates to organizational outcomes. Coming from rural Pennsylvania to Washington DC, Anthony feels at home as a history buff in the nation’s capital. In his spare time he likes to cook, bake, watch documentaries, and train recreational boxing/ mixed martial arts.
Fun Fact: Anthony is left-handed.
Gracie Schirle (1st year)
Gracie Schirle joined the Industrial Organizational Psychology doctoral program at GWU in 2023 after receiving a BS in Psychology and a BA in Sociology from Fordham University. During her time as an undergraduate researcher, she worked on projects exploring smoking cessation, borderline personality disorder, and the gamification of personnel selection measures. Gracie’s primary research interests include occupational stress, workplace incivility, work-life balance, employee well-being, and the experiences of sexual and gender minorities in the workplace. In her free time, she loves going to the movies, crocheting, and spending time with her dog, Arlo.
Fun fact: Gracie was born and raised in South Carolina
Fun fact: Gracie was born and raised in South Carolina
Affiliated graduate students
Chelsea Riccardi (5th year)
Claire Seo (3rd year)
Claire Seo (3rd year)
Research Assistants
Hanadi Haidarzada
Hanadi is currently an undergraduate student in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Psychological and Brain Sciences as well as Marketing. After graduation, Hanadi hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology, specializing in family and couples therapy. She wants to study how an individual’s family or partner dynamic impacts interpersonal affairs. Additionally, she wants to further research stress management and human interaction in organizational settings.
Fun Fact: Hanadi enjoys learning about various cultures.
Fun Fact: Hanadi enjoys learning about various cultures.
Grace Kim
Grace is a junior at GW majoring in Psychology with minors in Public Health and Organizational Sciences. She holds an interest in I/O Psychology with a focus on learning how mental health stability within healthcare industries strategizes for adequate employee and organization satisfaction. In her free time, Grace enjoys reading, watching movies, and visiting new cafes.
Fun fact: Grace has been to New York 25 times! |
Alexandra Savage
Alexandra is a senior at GWU studying Psychology and Spanish. Her interests include workplace discrimination, legal issues, and employee relations. She has previously held an internship as an HR intern and she can't wait to learn more about the interaction between workplace culture and employee behaviors.
Fun fact: Alexandra loves to crochet!
Fun fact: Alexandra loves to crochet!
Maria Thitsar
Maria is a junior in GWU majoring in Psychology and minoring in Organizational Sciences and Statistics. She hopes to pursue a graduate degree in I/O psychology and holds an interest in occupational health, training and motivation.
Fun Fact: She still doesn’t know how to ride a bike.
Fun Fact: She still doesn’t know how to ride a bike.
Julie Wu
Julie is a junior at Barnard College of Columbia University majoring in psychology with strong interests in HR functions and Industrial/Organizational psychology. She is interested in studying how to build more productive, efficient, and inclusive work spaces by empowering people and leveraging best practices from organizational psychology. At school, she is a research assistant at Columbia University's Business School in their behavioral marketing department.
Fun fact: She is a former pre-professional ballet dancer!
Fun fact: She is a former pre-professional ballet dancer!
Lab Alumni
Regan Sweeney (GW Bachelor of Science in International Affairs & Psychology)
Elizabeth Arenare (GW doctoral program of I/O psychology)
Arianna De La Cruz Pagán (GW School of Business Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) program)
Lance Gloria (GW master program of Organizational Sciences)
Yelizaveta Lukina (GW School of Business Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) program)
Zhangziyue (Rebecca) Huang (GW Bachelor of Psychology and Public Health)