Karyn Dossinger

Dr. Karyn Dossinger’s research focuses on how people navigate employment and career transitions, such as searching for a job while unemployed, new employee socialization, and retirement. She also conducts research on creativity in organizations, with an emphasis on how individuals harness their curiosity and capacity for learning to generate creative ideas both independently and in collaborative settings. She has published her research in leading journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.

Dr. Dossinger earned a B.A. in Psychology from St. Norbert College, a M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a consultant for over a decade, engaging with Fortune 500 organizations on projects in the areas of organizational development, leadership, and marketing strategy.

Dr. Dossinger teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership, management, and organizational behavior. She is also co-director of the Center for Innovation and Change Leadership, a “think and do” tank at the Sawyer Business School that supports people and organizations to embrace change across diverse areas of business and organizational life.

Honors and Recognitions

• Sawyer Business School Research Grant, 2021, 2019
• Sawyer Business School Peer Teaching Award, 2021
• Suffolk University “Thank A Prof” Award (student-nominated), 2019

Degrees/Professional Certifications

• PhD, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
• MS, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
• BA, Saint Norbert College

Professional Activities

Editorial Board, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2021 - present

Publications

Recent Intellectual Contributions

Trzebiatowski, T. M., Wanberg, C. R., Dossinger, K. (2020). Unemployed needn’t apply: Unemployment status, legislation, and interview requests. Journal of Management, 46(8), 1380-1407.

Webber, S., O'Neill, R., Dossinger, K. (2020). The Empowering Leadership Project. Journal of Management Education, 44, 342-361.

Wanberg, C. R., Van Hooft, E. A.J., Dossinger, K., van Vianen, A. E.M., Klehe, U.-C. (2020). How Strong is My Safety Net? Perceived Unemployment Insurance Generosity and Implications for Job Search, Mental Health, and Reemployment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 105(3), 209-229.

Dossinger, K., Wanberg, C. R., Choi, Y., Leslie, L. M. (2019). The Beauty Premium: The Role of Organizational Sponsorship in the Relationship between Physical Attractiveness and Early Career Salaries. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 112, 109-121.

Hagtvedt, L. P., Dossinger, K., Harrison, S., Huang, L. (2019). Curiosity made the cat more creative: Specific curiosity as a driver of creativity. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 150, 1-13.

Harrison, S. H., Dossinger, K. (2017). Pliable guidance: A multilevel model of curiosity, feedback seeking, and feedback giving in creative work. Academy of Management Journal, 60(6), 2051-2072.