Ph.D. in Applied Organizational Psychology

Third-Year Doctoral Students

Stephen P. Burke, MBA
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Stephen is currently employed as a Senior Business Manager within The New York Times' Consumer Marketing Division. His educational background includes a BBA in Business from Hofstra University and an MBA in General Management from Dowling College. In addition, he has two professional certificates: Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Financial Manager (CFM). He is extensively involved in numerous operational and business initiatives pertaining to the optimization of customer acquisition and retention, both of which correspond succinctly to his research interest which is customer satisfaction and loyalty. His dissertation experimentally analyzes the impact of organizational justice in the context of critical service failures and measures important organizational outcomes.

Sean Cruse, M.A.
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Sean is currently employed as a Senior Program Evaluator with the Research & Evaluation Center at Abilities! (formerly the National Center for Disability Services). Sean received his B.A. in Psychology at Stony Brook University and M.A. in General Psychology, with a concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, at Adelphi University. At Abilities! Sean conducts quality improvement evaluations, targeting satisfaction, outcomes and impact, for a variety of disability service programs. Sean is also a contracted employee with the United Nations’ Global Compact Office, supporting the communications division. Sean’s research interests include cross-cultural considerations within the organization, particularly the influence of globalization on the organization, expatriate success and cohesion among multi-national systems, specifically around ethical practices. Under the supervision of Dr. Seymour Adler, Sean has directed his research at Hofstra University toward defining and investigating the role of global mindset in effective global leadership. Sean is an avid traveler; when not studying or roaming abroad he enjoys playing the guitar and harmonica. Between semesters Sean keeps up a plumbing trade, of which he became certified in 2004, by conducting freelance home repair and renovation projects.

Daphne M. Gordon, MBA
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Daphne is the Project Administrator for the Entrepreneurial Assistance Center at Suffolk County Community College and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the college’s business department. She received a B.S. degree in economics from the University of South Carolina and a MBA in marketing from Adelphi University. Daphne has held several positions in economic development assisting individuals with starting and expanding their businesses.  Her research interests are based on the individuals she frequently counsels; the aging labor force and dislocated workers. In her spare time, Daphne enjoys traveling, Broadway and off Broadway productions and concerts.

Kevin D. Masick, M.A.
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Kevin graduated from SUNY Albany in 2004 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Biology. After completing his degree, he left working retail in Schenectady, NY to pursue his M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University, which he completed in 2006. For the past three years Kevin has worked in all aspects of Human Resources at St. Francis Hospital. His most recent position at St.Francis is working in Organization Development as a Consultant. In this position he is responsible for designing, training, and implementing employee engagement initiatives hospital wide. Kevin is also an Adjunct Psychology Professor for Hofstra University's Saturday College. Under the supervision of Dr.Terri Shapiro, his current dissertation is aimed at understanding the effects that Organizational Justice Theory has on customer satisfaction, loyalty, and complaining behavior. In addition to school, Kevin has bowled competitively for 22 years, is a certified coach, and continues to bowl and coach for fun whenever he finds time. Kevin also enjoys traveling, cooking, and baking.

Chris Nouryan, M.A.
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Chris received his undergraduate degree from Boston University and M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University. He is currently working at North Shore Hospital doing statistics about the effectiveness of outreach programs for senior citizens. In addition, some of Chris’ current projects include working with the hospital’s IRB to ensure that research is performed correctly and all data is collected, stored and protected appropriately, training social workers to explain informed consent to patients who are being considered for participation in research, and teaching end-of-life care to new residents and fellows. Prior to North Shore, Chris worked at Chase. He would eventually like to teach psychology. When not studying hard, Chris enjoys soccer, recording concerts, and Indian cuisine.

Carrie Picardi Newman, M.A.
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Carrie received a B.A. degree in Psychology from The College of New Jersey, an M.A. degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of New Haven and a certificate in Human Resources Studies from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology and the I/O Psychology Masters Program Director at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Carrie’s professional background includes over 12 years of experience as a Human Resources practitioner, manager, and research analyst/consultant, with specific expertise in job analysis, training and development, performance management, compensation, recruitment and selection, employee relations, workforce data/analytics, workflow systems development, and survey design/implementation. Carrie enjoys reading, films of many genres, hiking/snowshoeing, and relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. A travel enthusiast, Carrie's favorite places include the Australian outback, Sanibel Island, the road to Hana, Sedona, and Montreal. She is always eager to add a new destination to the list.

Jessica Slota, M.A.
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Jessica is currently employed as an Account Director in the market research division of Questus, an interactive marketing, media, and design company. This position involves handling all aspects of the survey process from survey development to fielding to analysis and report writing. Through the predominantly quantitative research she has conducted, she has had the opportunity to assist her clients on various initiatives including advertising awareness, product development, customer segmentation, and website usability. Even though her current position is in the market research realm, her research interests extend into the areas of training and development, and executive coaching. Jessica received her M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University and completed her undergraduate degree at Lehigh University. In addition to work and school, Jessica enjoys sports of all kinds, traveling, baking, and music.

Ourania R. Vasilatos, M.A.
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Ourania received her undergraduate degree from Hunter College, CUNY and her M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University. She is currently employed as an Employee Selection and OD Specialist at the Personnel Department of the NYS Unified Court System. Ourania is primarily engaged in developing, validating, implementing and analyzing employment tests and other selection procedures such as simulations, structured behavioral interviews, and computer-based performance measures. She also has expertise in performing job analysis/competency modeling studies, conducting expert-level statistical analyses, developing workforce and succession planning programs, designing and evaluating various programs (e.g., training), facilitating focus groups, and delivering feedback to executives and in developing large-scale surveys. Her research interests are primarily in the area of virtual teamwork. Other research interests include job applicant dishonesty, organizational justice, and cross-cultural differences. When not occupied with coursework, Ourania enjoys swimming, traveling, baking, reading and listening to music.