Cat Summers

Cat Summers is a postdoctoral fellow with the Erb Institute and the Ford School’s Leadership Initiative.  She is an organizational psychologist who studies environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at work, primarily drawing on social psychology theories. Her research focuses on the interaction of business, sustainability, and justice, reflecting her passion for assisting leaders and organizations in navigating the nexus of environmental sustainability and justice. 

Prior to completing her PhD at the University of Virginia, she worked in environmental non-profits, managing corporate donors and working with campaigners on award-winning sustainability projects.

Read more on her personal website.

Educational background

• PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia
• BSc in Biology, Queen’s University, Canada

Current research

• Hernandez, M., Guarana, C.L., & Owsik, C. “ Use your ambivalence to make more ethical decisions.” MIT Sloan Management Review. 2022.
• Owsik, C., & Belmi, P. “Workplace perspective: Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging starts with STARs.” Opportunity at Work. 2022.
• Singh, U., Owsik, C., & Singh, S. “The role of enhancing diversity in the earth sciences and engineering community.” The Mining, Geological, and Metallurgical Institute of India. 2020.