Program History

Timeline of Main Events

1981 MA program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology is founded in the Department of Psychology.
1988 Hugh Hindman (PhD, Ohio State University) joins the Department of Management.
1993 Peter Villanova (PhD, Virginia Tech) joins the Department of Management.
1993 The faculty in the Department of Psychology decide to dissolve the I-O Psychology program after it is reduced to a single faculty, Dr. Mary Powell. Powell (PSY) and Hindman (MGT) reconstitute the program as the MA program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management, a joint offering of the Departments of Psychology and Management. Hindman takes the role of Program Director. Peter Villanova joins the program.
1994 Tim Ludwig (PhD, Virginia Tech) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Psychology.
1995 Tim Ludwig assumes role of Program Director.
1996 Lyle Schoenfeldt (PhD, Purdue University) is hired as Chairperson of the Department of Management and joins the program.
1997 Tim Huelsman (PhD, Saint Louis University) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Psychology.
2003 Tim Huelsman assumes role of Program Director.
2004 The program is ranked as a top I-O program by Kraiger & Abalos (2004); #2 in Program Culture, #3 in Program Resources, and #7 in Program Costs.
2004 Jim Westerman (PhD, University of Colorado) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Management.
2005 Jacqui Bergman (PhD, University of Tennessee) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Management.
2005 Program is dubbed “IOHRM” to facilitate branding efforts.
2007 Shawn Bergman (PhD, University of Tennessee) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Psychology.
2010 Brian Whitaker (PhD, University of Akron) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Management.
2011 Lyle Schoenfeldt retires from Appalachian State University after 15 years of service.
2011 The first issue of the program newsletter, Eye on IOHRM, is produced under the guidance of Shawn Bergman. Bergman is named “PR Czar” of the program and commences a redesign of the program webpage.
2012 The IOHRM Advisory Board is founded.
2012 Peter Villanova leaves IOHRM program to concentrate on undergraduate education.
2013 Hugh Hindman receives the IOHRM Lifetime Service Award; he is the first and only person so honored.
2014 Kemp Ellington (PhD, North Carolina State University) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Management.
2014 Tim Huelsman creates new IOHRM logo and tagline, “The People Side of Business, The Business Side of Psychology.”
2015 Hugh Hindman retires from Appalachian State University after 28 years of service. He is named “IOHRM Program Godfather.”
2015 The Safety Summit, an annual conference devoted to behavioral safety developed by Tim Ludwig, draws almost 100 attendees in its inaugural meeting.
2015 The IOHRM program curriculum is revised.
2016 Yalçın Açıkgöz (PhD, Middle East Technical University) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Psychology. Due to a failed coup attempt in Turkey, his arrival is delayed until September.
2018 Three independent research groups rank the IOHRM program among the Top 10 in the US, with several #1 rankings (see the Spring 2018 issue of The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist (Volume 55, Issue 4).
2018 Kristl Davison (PhD, University of Tulsa) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Management.
2021 Jack Carson (PhD, Auburn University) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Management.
2023 Jessica Doll (PhD, Clemson University) joins the program after being hired in the Department of Management.
Annually The IOHRM program graduates a stellar group of alumni and recruits awesome new students; students, alumni, and faculty do wonderful things.

Photo Galleries

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Testimonials

"I have been so fortunate to have built cross-functional expertise even beyond my time at ASU. That vast experience would not have been possible without the strong foundation I received through ASU's IOHRM program."

Cynthia Miller ‘01

"This hybrid I-O program, which seeks to bridge the scientist-practitioner divide, had the perfect appeal to me. Indeed, this was the only such program I applied for, because there were no other I-O programs that excited me like ASU’s."

Ricky Carroll '13

"I was among the first graduates in I/O Psychology. The program provided a wonderful blend of Psychology, Business and Human Resources courses. The degree has been helpful in landing career positions and I have used what I learned in every job I have had since I graduated."

Laverne (Hales) Hibbett '84

"The two years I spent in this program led to friendships that will last a lifetime and memories that will never fade. The success I've experienced so far in my career, I owe to the program and the faculty that prepared me for the real world!"

Elma Dostovic '12

"What I gained from my time in the App State IOHRM program from 2001-2003 goes beyond the technical curriculum knowledge that I learned; "softer" skills of critical thinking, debate preparation and engagement, leadership, and more have proved just as valuable post-graduation. This comprehensive program has proven to be a lifelong investment as I continually apply lessons and knowledge gained from those fulfilling 3 years."

Nicholas Graham '03

"The IOHRM degree from ASU has been extremely beneficial to my career in human resources. The dual concentration in business and psychology opened doors I didn't realize could be opened in our field. The business classes provided a strong foundation to work as an HR business partner, and the psychology focus has enabled me to provide a perspective that is unique in an organization's corporate structure. The program also facilitated a great opportunity to connect with other students, professors, and colleagues, as well as exposure to several great organizations. Many of the HR Executives that I have had personal interaction with in the Denver area either have an advanced degree in I/O Psychology, or recognize it's worth."

Elizabeth Schmidt '04

"The IOHRM program at ASU has exposed me to different ways of thinking and analyzing behavior within the workplace, which has benefited me in becoming well-rounded HR professional."

Carlton Brunson '11

"Being able to integrate my existing business experience into a psychology degree through the dual-teaching of I/O Psych with HRM was the number one reason I elected ASU for furthering my graduate education."

Kate Thompson ‘14

"The masters program in IOHRM at Appalachian State University provided me with both the theoretical foundation and applied experience to excel in my career. Not only did the program prepare me for doctoral studies, it also equipped me to be an effective practitioner upon graduation. The distinct program format provides non-business degree majors with a unique opportunity to bridge the social sciences with business education. I give the IOHRM Program my very highest recommendation for the program – it changed my life!"

William Sparks, Ph.D '96

"Appalachian's IOHRM program more than prepared me for my career. The consulting experiences I had with leaders of large organizations, and the knowledge I gained through the rigorous coursework allowed me to enter my position prepared for what I needed to accomplish."

Kristin Berglund '07

"ASU’s I/O program provided me with access to peers, teachers and resources from two different colleges. The result was more developmental opportunities and a breadth of perspective that I may have missed had I attended a more traditional I/O program."

Brett Cooksey

"The coursework and experience with client-facing, applied projects equipped me with a solid foundation for succeeding in a corporate setting."

Danielle Kretschmer '15

"Being part of the IOHRM program at Appalachian State was a remarkable experience. I received terrific guidance and mentoring from my professors in both the psychology and business areas of my coursework. The coursework was challenging but enriching, and I grew in both my appreciation and understanding for the I/O discipline within psychology. All my classes gave me opportunity to 'test' what I was learning, be it in doing deep research or in actually applying my learning real time in local businesses. The thesis and internship process were both enriching in that I was able to see how my training would apply in a real job, and also see if doing academic research would be a career I'd want to pursue. And as I've stayed connected to my peers and the program, I've seen that the alumni network from the IOHRM program is out there doing awesome work. I feel fortunate to say that I was a part of this tremendous program."

Andrew Smith '08

"I am thankful for my time there. The exceptional faculty, environment, curricula, and fellow students of the ASU IOHRM Program prepared me for adding evidence-based value to a variety of talent initiatives. I have yet to experience a day of work that is not positively impacted by the learning and development delivered through the ASU IOHRM Program. As we learn more about the ever-changing workplace of today and prepare for the exciting (and challenging!) future, I remain convinced that committed IOHRM professionals of all disciplines are equipped for delivering significant contributions to the most critical of individual and organizational outcomes."

Ryan Felty '12

"No other Master's program (that I know of) has such a unique composition of curriculum. When I obtain a diploma from ASU's IOHRM program, employers will immediately have a good idea what kind of training I received."

Jason Copeland ‘13

"The HRM part of the degree has been critical to my success. It is what got me in the door for several interviews. It is absolutely essential to my current job and career path. Having the HR foundation allows the I/O to have context."

Ariel Grosshuesch ‘10

"What we have on our resume is not specific classes we take, it is the degree we have. Therefore, when applying for an HR position, having the HRM part on the resume will make it more relevant for a person who doesn't know what courses are taken in a given program."

Yalcin Acikgoz ‘13

"It only took seeing the curriculum and meeting the program director for me to know that ASU's IOHRM program would fully prepare me to begin a career with all of the tools I will need to be successful."

Kate Thompson ‘14

"The HRM component of my degree was extremely important when I entered the job market. The psychology courses I took within the program helped me solidify my research skills and perspectives on human behavior but the HRM courses really got down to what businesses want from HR/IO employees."

Dagmara Pawlowska '11

"I am so thankful for my time at Appalachian State, and for the opportunities that the IOHRM program afforded me. The faculty are top notch and treat students as colleagues. Through my coursework, I gained an appreciation for the significance of my profession. The application of this knowledge during my internship and practicum experiences helped to prepare me for my current role and beyond."

Amanda Eberhardt '14

"The cross-disciplinary aspect of the program was the primary reason that I looked at attending App for my graduate studies. I absolutely loved my HRM courses and deeply valued each of them."

Kerry Talbert '12

"This unique program prepares you for success in a number of different positions including as a generalist across all the fields of HR and OD or as a specialist. The foundation you receive in measurement and analytics as well as making sound decisions based on the data is applicable to any practitioner regardless of discipline."

Amber (Boyles) Harrison '09

IOHRM

Program History

Timeline of Main Events

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