MPS in Applied Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Jessica Dixon, 2025

I've spent the past seven and a half years growing my career in Talent Development at DoorDash, building new-hire training, creating measurement strategies, and designing leadership programs that empower our people. My experience at George Mason has given me knowledge and skills I can immediately apply in the workplace, and the journey has been incredibly fulfilling.

What was your specific area of study and how did you choose it?

I chose industrial & organizational psychology because it speaks to the part of me that believes workplaces can be both high-performing AND deeply human. 

For my practicum, my group conducted a multi-industry study of over 200 employees, exploring how leader curiosity impacts psychological safety and how empathy moderates that relationship. The results revealed compelling insights into the interplay between leadership traits, team dynamics, and employee psychological safety. Our analysis supported the hypothesis that leader curiosity positively impacts follower psychological safety. Employees who rated their leaders as more curious also reported feeling safer to engage, contribute ideas, and take risks within their teams. Notably, this relationship persisted even after accounting for demographic factors such as team size and industry. 

However, findings suggest a nuanced dynamic; at higher levels, the positive impact of leader curiosity diminished, indicating that excessive curiosity may lead to perceptions of over-involvement or intrusiveness. Empathy emerged as a key factor in shaping this relationship; leaders with high empathy effectively mitigated the diminishing returns of excessive curiosity. This suggests that empathetic behaviors may balance out negative perceptions, helping ensure a curious leader’s engagement is experienced as supportive rather than intrusive. 

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you? 

My academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences gave me both the confidence and the tools to grow into a stronger professional and leader. The program pushed me to think more critically, strengthen my communication skills, and deepen my ability to work with data and statistics (an area that once felt intimidating but has now become one of my strengths). Beyond technical skills, my experience at George Mason helped me see organizational challenges through a broader, more human-centered lens. I’m leaving the program not just with a degree, but with a deeper sense of purpose and confidence in the impact I can make. 

Which accomplishments during your time at George Mason are you most proud of? 

Working full-time in a fast-paced, high-demand role at DoorDash while pursuing my master’s stretched me more than I anticipated, but it’s also one of my proudest accomplishments. Throughout the program, I was able to apply what I was learning in real-time—conducting a job analysis for a key role, shaping the design of our company’s Leadership Summit and onboarding programs for people managers, and making informed recommendations to improve our employee voice survey. The experience has been a catalyst for both professional and personal growth. I feel more confident in my work and deeply proud of how far I’ve come. 

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your George Mason career? 

All the professors in the MPS program are truly top-notch, but a few stand out. Professor Stagl is incredibly passionate about I-O Psychology, and it’s infectious. He cares about each student, and he took the time to get to know us individually. He also holds a very high standard and believes in your ability to reach it—something that was difficult early in the program but ultimately set me up for success. 

I could listen to Professor Zaccaro lecture all day. He is not only knowledgeable but incredibly engaging, and he even indulged our fun side conversations, like debating who the best leader in Harry Potter is. His class came at exactly the right time for me, giving me insights I could immediately apply to leadership projects at work. 

Professor Ahmad made a lasting impact on my George Mason experience, both through the practicum and in her role as Director of the MPS program. She ran MPS monthly sessions that provided crucial support, helping students stay grounded, connected, and confident through the program’s demands. I always felt like Professor Ahmad truly cared about our growth, and her leadership made an online program feel personal. Her guidance during practicum was invaluable, and I’m grateful for the time and encouragement she consistently gave. 

Professor Doverspike also contributed greatly to our practicum experience, offering thoughtful feedback and making sure we translated our research into real-world impact. 

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students? 

First, you can do this! Of course you can. Second, find a weekly rhythm that works for you, so you can make progress in manageable chunks. Third, I always started classes by adding all due dates to my planner. I took note of when life and work might be a blocker for school and shifted weekly workloads accordingly. Thinking ahead saved me! 

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals? 

After graduation, I will continue expanding my impact at DoorDash, applying my skills to projects that improve how people experience work. Long-term, my goal is to lead large-scale initiatives that make workplaces more human-centered, high-performing, and resilient—whether that's within my current organization or across new opportunities in the future.