Eden King
Assistant Professor of Psychology
George Mason University
Rising Star Recipient
Eden King joined the faculty of the Industrial-Organizational Psychology program at George Mason University after earning her Ph.D. from Rice University in 2006. In collaboration with graduate and undergraduate students, Dr. King is pursuing a program of scholarship that seeks to help diverse individuals and organizations overcome barriers to equality.
Her research, which has appeared in the top journals in her discipline and in popular media outlets such as Good Morning America and the CBS Evening News, builds understanding of the experiences of stigmatized individuals in the workplace and the strategies that can be used to improve these experiences. Her research reflects breadth in the diversity of perspectives that are considered, which include women, ethnic minorities, obese individuals, older workers, disabled individuals, parents, and gay and lesbian workers.
Dr. King’s research endeavors have been supported by funding from the Sloan Foundation and the American Psychological Association and recognized by awards from the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. She is currently on the editorial boards of the Journal of Management and the Journal of Business and Psychology. Her first book, How Women Can Make it Work: The Science of Success, will be published this spring.
In her teaching, Dr. King strives to cultivate critical thinking based on empirical research and to evoke persistent learning and application of research after students leave her classroom. Her enthusiasm for research is matched by her dedication to the mentorship of diverse graduate and undergraduate students.
In addition to her academic positions, Dr. King has consulted on applied projects related to gender climate initiatives and diversity training programs, and she has worked as an employment discrimination legal consultant.
"As an organizational psychologist, I could talk with students about social issues, study questions that have relevance to justice, and work with institutions to make change outside the ivory tower. I was fueled not only by the content of the work, but also by a desire to become the kind of mentor that might help students to find the same kind of passion."