It all begins with an observation.
As a scholar-practitioner, Mateo’s work is guided by one central goal: To design and deliver evidence-based interventions that advance change leaders at the intersection of identities.
Dr. Mateo Cruz is an award-winning teaching-scholar at Bentley University. His primary research focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice (DEIJ), and change in groups & organizations. His research has been published in top management and psychology outlets including, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Vocational Behavior, and Research in Organizational Change and Development, and presented to academic & executive audiences in the US, UK, and South Africa.
Mateo also holds 20+ years of experience as an organization development and change (ODC) consultant & trainer specializing in inclusive leadership, group & team dynamics, and organizational change. He currently serves as a Faculty Advisor to the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University and is a proud member of the Executive Board of Directors for GLSEN National, a leading LGBTQ+ education organization in the US. In 2024, he was awarded the Dr. Earl L. Avery MLK Leadership Award for his efforts to advance inclusion in organizations.
Mateo holds a Ph.D. in social-organizational psychology from Columbia University; an M.A. in organizational psychology from Columbia University; and a B.A. in social work/psychology from the University of Portland.
Dr. Cruz is an active contributor to internal (at Bentley University) and external events.
Where is Mateo now?
“No action without research; no research without action.”
Kurt Lewin
Check out Mateo’s research.
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Profiles in persistence: A latent profile analysis of coping strategies among women in the sciences
The purpose of this study was to examine how women in STEM occupations engage multiple coping strategies across locations of response. Beyond discovering merely “high” or “low” engagement with specific strategies in isolation, our work presents a complex and multifaceted display of strategies combined in unique constellations.
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The purpose of this research was to understand how women in academic STEM navigate careers in professional contexts that are infused with systemic stereotype threat.
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Sexual harassment training: Often necessary but rarely sufficient
Even the best developed and most evidence-based training will have limited impact if the training is embedded in an institutional context that does not support the training, or worse, tolerates incivility and other exclusionary behaviors.
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The purpose of this paper is to propose a systems approach to diagnosing DEI issues in organizations for consultation and change.
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In this paper, we discuss the case for adding social justice to DEI training for executives. We also showcase one DEI training program that centers social justice in its design and content.
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The goal of a brave dialogue is not to produce a one-off solution; rather, to engage with an ongoing practice that deepens trust, increases belongingness, and harnesses differences to advance individual and organizational learning.
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An open systems approach to course redesign: Moving beyond the pulpit
For I-O psychologists, dramatic changes in the educational landscape, highlighted by the pandemic and the demand for racially inclusive pedagogy, underscores the interconnectedness between our course content and the external environment and presents an opportunity to demonstrate the relevance of I-O to stakeholders across the university system.
Read the latest headlines.
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Artificially intelligent (AI) technologies are positioned to disrupt the world of work. But creating a workplace where employees feel valued and able to bring their unique perspectives to the table still takes some very human skills. Bentley Magazine, Summer 2023.
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As DEI consultants, students offer strategies for improving workplace culture. Read the full article HERE.
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Dr. Cruz kicks off the start to Pride month as the keynote speaker at the Flag Raising Ceremony at Bentley University. Read the full article HERE.
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In a Bentley University Newsroom article, Dr. Cruz’s student-led workshops spark conversations about DEI issues in — and outside — the workplace. Read the full article HERE.
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In a Bentley University Newsroom article, Dr. Cruz’s student explores the hidden costs of bias in the Finance sector. Read the full article HERE.
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In an Academic Minute article, Dr. Cruz writes about his research on women in STEM and the stereotype threat they face. Read the full article HERE.