For this week’s IOHRM Student Spotlight, we are featuring Madison Culver (goes by Maddy), a current second-year graduate student in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management (IOHRM) program at Appalachian State University. Maddy is a native of Boone, North Carolina, and completed her undergraduate studies at Appalachian State in psychology, with a concentration in social sciences and a minor in sociology. Now let’s take a closer look at what drew her to the IOHRM program, her key interests, advice for future students, and more!
Journey to IOHRM
Maddy’s path to the IOHRM program began with a course in organizational psychology with Dr. Tim Huelsman during her undergraduate studies. As she explains, “I really enjoyed it and realized it was something I could see myself doing for the rest of my career.” Though she wasn’t sure exactly where her career would go at the time, her conversations with Dr. Huelsman sparked a growing interest in the field. Once she was finally accepted into the IOHRM program, Maddy decided it was the right fit, not just because of what the program offered academically, but because it allowed her to stay close to home in Boone. “I’ve lived here my whole life and didn’t want to move away,” she shares, a sentiment that ultimately solidified her decision to pursue her graduate studies at her alma mater.
Exploring Interests as a Current Student
Maddy's current academic interests lie in the organizational side of I-O psychology, specifically the personality of organizations and its relationship to motivation and business development as she finds it fascinating how these elements can shape workplace behaviors and contribute to a corporation's success. Outside of class, Maddy is also actively involved in several extracurricular activities including being a mentor for the ACCESS program, which works to provide resources to low-income students on campus. Additionally, she serves as the assistant director for the HR Science research team, where she collaborates with peers and faculty to leverage research to optimize human resource practices in the real world.
Favorite Part of the IOHRM Program
For Maddy, the most rewarding aspect of the IOHRM program has been the strong sense of community and the lasting relationships she’s developed with her cohort. “When they say they’re the only ones who truly understand what you’re going through, they really mean it,” she says. Ultimately, the support and encouragement from her classmates have been invaluable, providing a steady source of collaboration and camaraderie over the past two years, and helping her navigate the challenges of the program with a deep sense of belonging. She also appreciates how the program has helped her bridge the gap between her passion for HR and her non-HR background, especially since she knew she wanted to pursue a career in HR but hadn’t yet earned an HR-specific degree.
Current Plans for After Graduation
“Find a job and love life.” For Maddy, this means pursuing a fulfilling career while also making room for all that life has to offer. Whether it is traveling, trying new hobbies, or spending quality time with friends and family, she’s eager to continue her personal and professional journey post-graduation.
Advice for Prospective Students
Maddy's advice for prospective students is simple but powerful: “Take a chance.” She encourages those considering the program to trust in their abilities, even if they feel uncertain or have had different experiences compared to others. Reflecting on her own journey, Maddy explains how she worked multiple jobs during her undergraduate career and the first year of graduate school, often feeling she lacked the same level of direct experience as some of her peers. However, she didn’t let that hold her back, and she encourages others to do the same and believe in themselves, no matter where they are starting from.
Madison’s Thesis
Over the past year, Maddy has been working on a thesis during her time in the IOHRM program, focusing on the Dark Triad- narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy-and how these traits influence counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) in the workplace. More specifically, her research examines how power dynamics—both positional power (such as the ability to hire or fire) and perceived power (like the ability to influence others)—moderate the relationship between these dark personality traits and negative workplace behaviors. By connecting these concepts to IOHRM, she explores how power influences the impact of dark traits on harmful behaviors, offering valuable insights into the role of power in shaping organizational behavior.
We’re grateful to Maddy for offering valuable insights into her growth as a student and her professional experiences. We can’t wait to see the incredible things she’ll continue to accomplish!
