9:34 is a symbolic representation of the meaning we make of the world around us based on our perceptions, life experiences, and cultural identities. For some, 9:34 may reflect three distinct and meaningless numbers; for others, each number holds deep and consequential purpose. For others still, 9:34 could be a time, day or night, a Bible verse, or the time stamp on a song or film that had a profound influence on our lives. In Dr. Cruz’s lab, 9:34 reminds us that we all see the world through different lenses, some we are aware of, others we are not. It also serves to demonstrate that we have the individual and collective power to create shared meaning across diverse experiences towards self-and-group actualization for a purpose greater than ourselves. 

Dr. Cruz and his lab study the unconscious, invisible, and/or covert dynamics that occur in workplace contexts specific to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI). The work falls into three areas:

  1. Target experiences and responses to working under conditions of systemic stereotype threat

  2. Perceiver perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards historically excluded groups in organizations (e.g., gay and lesbian managers, Latine women leaders, trans/nonbinary employees)

  3. System-level diagnoses, analyses, and interventions to foster organization-wide DEI change 

the 9:34 lab

Meet the Team

  • Yaro Fong-Olivares

    Co-Principal Investigator

    Yaro Fong-Olivares, M.S., is the Executive Director of the Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business (CWB) at Bentley University. In this role, she leads the CWB’s mission-driven work to advance women’s leadership in business from the classroom to the boardroom. She partners with the staff and CWB stakeholder community to develop and deliver programs informed by research and best practices. She also serves as a subject matter expert on leadership development for women and gender-variant individuals and brings an intersectional feminist lens to the content the CWB produces. Yaro is currently pursuing a doctorate in Organizational Leadership Psychology at William James. She holds an M.S. in Organizational Change Management from The New School and a B.A. in Sociology from Barnard College. Yaro also serves as Past-President of the Executive Committee of the New York Center for the Study of Groups, Organizations and Social Systems, and as an affiliate and certified consultant for the A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems.

  • Wiley Davi

    Co-Principal Investigator

    Wiley Davi is professor of English & Media Studies at Bentley University. Wiley's teaching and research interests span the fields of writing, diversity, leadership, and service-learning. Wiley is co-author of Leading with Uncommon Sense (2020) and has published articles and delivered presentations on the intersections of race, gender, leadership, and teaching. Wiley is also a program facilitator for Bentley's Center for Women & Business. Outside of Bentley, Wiley is a facilitator for the Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations. Wiley holds a Ph.D. from Tufts University in Massachusetts.

  • June Prothmann , Pharm. D, MBA, MS

    Executive Ph.D. Advisee

    June is currently the CEO of SpectrumFertility Group. This company is a start-up biotechnology firm that June has built from scratch with bold aspirations to become a major global provider by 2030. Prior to assuming this executive post, June held numerous positions at IBM Consulting with her last role as Partner of Strategic Delivery Leader for Hybrid Cloud Services. June's research interests include global marketing, strategic leadership, minority women leadership, and entrepreneurship with an industry focus in genetics and biotech.

  • Isabel Zica (DEI major, Class of 2025)

    Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA)

    Isabel is a current senior at Bentley University studying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Her passion lies in giving a voice to those who are often left out of conversations, uplifting underrepresented communities, and fostering more inclusive environments wherever she goes. Upon graduation in May, she hopes to find work that will give her purpose and have a positive impact on the world while allowing her to continue her advocacy and fight for change.

  • Dock Luckie, B.S.

    Pre-doctoral Lab Assistant

  • Interested in Joining the lab?

    Email Dr. Cruz

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interested in joining us?