Meet the incoming organizational psychology graduate students
August 3, 2026 - Shelly DeJong
A warm welcome to the new graduate students who are joining MSU's Department of Psychology this fall. Jess Cameron, Heather Rae Gaydowen, Malak Qaradeh, and Monica Tran will be joining the organizational psychology research area. Get to know them a bit below!
Name: Jess Cameron (she/her)
Hometown: Middleboro, Massachusetts
Background: BA in Biology with a specialization in Ecology and Conservation Biology (Boston University); MS in Global Leadership (University of San Diego); MA in Defense and Strategic Studies (U.S. Naval War College).
Work Experience: 19 years and counting serving as an active-duty Naval Flight Officer and Military Professor in the U.S. Navy.
Why grad school? I'm passionate about developing ethical leaders to help teams and organizations thrive while achieving mission success. I want to pursue Organizational Psychology to challenge myself further and to expand and apply this field of science to make a lasting difference in the workplace and in our communities.
What do you hope to study when you’re here? I'm broadly interested in leadership selection and effectiveness, ethical decision-making, and team dynamics—particularly in high-risk, high-stress scenarios. Furthermore, I'm interested in examining how leader behaviors can impact trust, confidence, performance, and morale. These areas inherently interest me due to my experience flying in multi-crew aircraft in the Navy within dynamic environments. It's hard! How can we achieve these goals more effectively as a team? How do we even measure trust? And if we can, how might we develop it faster? I can see these research implications impacting the military, emergency medicine, and teaching. After graduation, I aim to continue collaborative research efforts with MSU and to build upon what I learn when I return to the Naval War College, where I'll continue to research and teach graduate students "Leader Development in the Profession of Arms" as an active-duty Military Professor in our College of Leadership and Ethics, in Newport, Rhode Island.
In your free time, what do you like to do? I love to run, ski, snowboard, hike, swim, read, write, nap, and especially travel—experiencing the world one gastronomical adventure at a time!
Name: Heather Rae Gaydowen (she/her)
Hometown: Wallingford, CT
Background: BS in Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University, Class of 2026
Why grad school? I am a lifelong learner, and I am excited to continue my academic career in Organizational Psychology. Grad school will help me towards my goal of becoming a professor and researcher.
What do you hope to study when you’re here? I hope to research occupational health and wellbeing, diversity, stress, coping, and motivation. I believe that everyone should enjoy their job but not let their work consume their lives or decrease their overall quality of life. Additionally, I am interested in how workplaces can further embrace and utilize diverse mindsets and cultures.
In your free time, what do you like to do? I love to travel, try new foods and drinks, hike or just be out in nature, read, and watch movies!
Name: Malak Qaradeh (she/her)
Hometown: Ramallah, Palestine
Background: Graduated from Rice University in May with a B.A. in psychology and cognitive sciences
Why grad school? I chose grad school because it would allow me to learn new statistical methods, collaborate with others on important research, and apply my findings to real world contexts. Grad school would also help me develop teaching skills and work towards my goal of becoming a professor.
What do you hope to study when you’re here? I hope to research how diverse workplaces can better implement DEI initiatives. I am specifically interested in understanding how social biases can hinder the success and well-being of marginalized individuals. These topics interest because they can contribute to organizational change and improve employee engagement.
In your free time, what do you like to do? I like to write poetry, try different restaurants, and learn new instruments.
Name: Monica Tran (she/her)
Hometown: Union City, California
Background: I earned my M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and worked as a Management Consulting Intern at DRS Consulting, where I contributed to a team effectiveness analysis project for Dropbox.
Why grad school? I’m driven by curiosity and enjoy being surrounded by other motivated and driven people. I wanted to pursue graduate school to become part of a lifelong community of researchers, continue asking meaningful questions, and contribute to research that improves people’s work experiences.
What do you hope to study when you’re here? I’m interested in researching career development, particularly how emerging technologies are shaping career paths, workforce entry, and employee experiences. I want to dive deep into how organizations can leverage data decision making to support growth, collaboration, and long-term career success.
In your free time, what do you like to do? I enjoy camping, backpacking, hiking, playing sports, and video games. I also love exploring new places and spending time outdoors with friends.