This week, we are spotlighting Brenna McNamara, a second-year student in the Industrial-Organization Psychology and Human Resource Management (IOHRM) program. Brenna received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in business and a minor in HR management from Appalachian State University.
Journey to IOHRM
As an undergraduate psychology major, Brenna knew she was interested in how people think, work, and interact with one another. Her curiosity deepened after taking Dr. Huelsman’s Organizational Psychology course, where she became intrigued by job satisfaction and employee motivation. Wanting to get involved in I-O psychology, she joined HR science, which solidified her interest in the field and her desire to pursue further education. Her experience in HR science and the connections she built with students and faculty made App State’s IOHRM program feel like a natural choice. She expected the program to be challenging, but worthwhile, and she shared that those expectations have definitely been met. She had seen the program build professional confidence in students, and shared that it has exceeded her expectations in that regard. She especially appreciates the strong connections she has built with her cohort throughout the program.
Exploring Interests as a Student
Brenna has found several courses throughout her time in the program particularly engaging. Staffing stood out to her as she enjoyed learning more about the employee selection process and how organizations make hiring decisions. She also enjoys her Strategic HR Management class, where students analyze business cases and collaborate to develop practical solutions.
Her involvement with the HR Science FOCUS (Foundations of Career Understanding in Psychology Students) team has been especially meaningful. As a former psychology undergraduate, she appreciates the opportunity to work with undergraduates, gather their perceptions of the degree, and help recommend and implement improvements, including work with the EUGENE website. She shared that being part of this project has felt especially rewarding given her own academic background.
In addition to HR science, Brenna has worked on SHRM consulting projects and is currently conducting her thesis research with Dr. Davison, with Dr. Ellington serving as chair. Her thesis focuses on sexual harassment training for young workers, examining differences related to trainer characteristics such as gender and age. She has gained hands-on experience with the full research process, including data collection and analysis. She described it as an invaluable learning experience.
Through these academic and applied experiences, she has refined her professional interests. While her initial interest was centered around job satisfaction and motivation, she did not expect to become as interested in Training and Development. However, her thesis and coursework have sparked a strong interest in how people learn and how organizations can design effective training programs. She has also enjoyed seeing how IOHRM courses, like Performance Management and Compensation, connect.
Favorite Part of the IOHRM Program
Brenna’s favorite part of the IOHRM program has been developing meaningful connections with her cohort. She emphasized the support students provide one another, especially during busy and challenging times. Going through the program together has been, as she described, a meaningful bonding experience, where everyone is invested in each other’s success.
Advice for Prospective Students
Brenna’s advice for prospective students is to embrace the challenge. She encourages incoming students to lean into the program's difficulty and trust that the growth they experience will be worthwhile. She also highlighted the importance of being open to feedback. Throughout the program, students receive constructive feedback designed to help them grow professionally. Brenna believes that being open to this process helps students better understand their strengths and areas for development, which ultimately shapes the professionals they want to become.
Looking Ahead
After completing her summer internship at Travelers in the HR Leadership Development Program in Hartford, Connecticut, Brenna has accepted a position in their rotational HR Leadership Development program. In this role, she will complete three core rotations in talent acquisition, compensation, and employee relations, along with a fourth rotation of her choice. The program will allow her to gain hands-on experience across multiple HR functions while continuing to grow as an HR professional.
Brenna shared that the IOHRM program played a significant role in preparing her for both her internship and career. During her internship, she worked in the learning and development department, applying concepts from her Training and Development coursework. She described it as a great experience that allowed her to use what she learned in the classroom in a real organizational setting.
Brenna noted that one of the biggest ways the IOHRM program has prepared her for her career has been by building her professional confidence. She explained that the program not only deepens students’ knowledge but also develops their ability to communicate that knowledge effectively to others, which she believes sets the IOHRM program apart.
While she is excited to begin her career at Travelers, Brenna is also looking forward to the opportunity to take more trips across the Western United States and read more books in her free time.
Brenna McNamara headshot
