Melissa Extein

Dr. Melissa Extein is an organizational consultant with over a decade of experience helping both for- and non-profit organizations understand themselves better and implement changes to improve effectiveness. Her work applies theories of emotional intelligence, group development, leadership, and embedded intergroup relations to guide organizations to achieve their goals and long-term visions. She specializes in non-profit and non-governmental organization management and leadership, organizational assessment, executive coaching, strategic planning, evaluation, theory of change development, and retreat planning and facilitation. She also teaches and guest lectures on these topics to graduate students and executives at New York University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Committed to social justice, Dr. Extein has worked with a range of clients, including American Jewish World Service, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, Bergen County's United Way, The Children's Aid Society, EarthRights International, Generation Citizen, Johnson & Johnson, Mama Cash, New Jersey Ballet, Princeton and New York Universities, Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, Wellspring Advisors, WITNESS, and Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition. Experienced in working across cultures, her leadership, teaching, and consulting positions have brought her to countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Dr. Extein has been involved with the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence since her days as a graduate student, when she established and edited the monthly newsletter, organized the first research conference, and coordinated member meetings. She has lectured on emotional intelligence at Rutgers University's Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership and Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, as well as New York University's Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising.

Dr. Extein earned her B.A. in Psychology with Distinction from Yale University and her Psy.D. in Organizational Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University, where she received a Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations Fellowship. She has earned language diplomas from schools in both Spain and Brazil.

Sample Article

• Cherniss, C., Extein, M., Goleman, D., & Weissberg, R. P. (2006). Emotional intelligence: What does the research really indicate? Educational Psychologist, 41, 239-245.