Gelaye Debebe
Title — Assistant Professor
Phone — 202-994-1937
E-mail — gdebebe@gwu.edu
Current Research
Cross-cultural and organizational learning, women’s leadership development, qualitative research methods
Education
Ph.D., Department of Organizational Behavior, School of Business, University of Michigan, 2002
M.S., Human Resource Development, American University, 1992
B.A., Government and Politics, University of Maryland, 1986
Background
Gelaye Debebe is Assistant Professor of Organizational Sciences at the George Washington University and Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Gender in Organizations at Simmons Graduate School of Management. She holds a BS in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, an MS from the American University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Michigan. Her research has examined how people learn in difficult or stressful environments or situations. She has specifically explored the conditions necessary to foster transformative learning among women in formal training and how individuals who represent culturally dissimilar and politically unequal groups create new knowledge through their interactions. Her published work has appeared in Research in Organizational Behavior, Journal of Management Education, Advancing Women in Leadership Journal, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Human Resourced Development International, Issues in Intercultural Communication and Development in Practice. She is also author of a two forthcoming books, Navigating Power and Transformative Pathways to Leadership Effectiveness for Women.
Honors
Nominee. Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership. Simmons Graduate School of Management. 2012.
Best Paper Proceedings. Academy of Management. 2010.
Davis Conference on Qualitative Research Best Paper Award (with Jane Dutton and Amy Wrzesniewski). 2009.
Gil Whitaker Fellowship. University of Michigan. 1997.
Member. American University Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, Public Affairs Honor Society. 1992.
American Society for Training and Development Scholarship for Graduate Students in Human Resource Development. 1991.
Publications
Books
Debebe, G. (2013) Transforming Women Leaders: Three Pathways to Leadership Effectiveness.
Debebe, G., Navigating Power: Cross-Cultural Competence and Coordination in Navajoland, Lexington Books, 2012.
"...a must-read for those committed to realizing true multiculturalism and educating others about it."
— Stella M. Nkomo, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Journal Articles
Debebe, G., 2011, “Creating a Safe Environment for Women's Leadership Transformation,” Journal of Management Education, 35:5. Academy of Management Best Paper 2010, and featured in Journal of Management Education podcast and in Sage Publications Management INK.
Debebe, G., 2010, “Creating Receptivity in Cross-Cultural Coordination: The Role of Civic Virtue,” Human Resource Development International, 13:4.
Debebe, G. 2010, “Creating Cross Cultural Knowledge: Process, Relationship, and Task Aspects,” Issues in Intercultural Communication, 3:1.
Debebe, G., 2008, “Cross-Cultural Competence and Power-Based Rules: A Native American Case Study,”International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32:5.
Wrzesniewski, A., Dutton, J.E., and Debebe, G., 2004, “Interpersonal Sensemaking and the Meaning of Work,”Research in Organizational Behavior, 25.
Subject of an Academy of Management session entitled “Interpersonal Moments at Work,” 2010. Received over 140 Google Scholar citations.
Debebe, G., 2002, “Guest Learning and Adaptation in the Field: A Navajo Case Study,” Development in Practice, 12:3. Reprinted in J. Pettit and L. Roper (eds.), Development and the Learning Organization, Oxfam and Institute for Development Studies, 2003, and translated into Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Contributions to Edited Volumes
Dutton, J. E., Debebe, G., and Wrzesniewski, A. 2012, "Being Valued and Devalued at Work: A Social Valuing Perspective," Qualitative Organizational Research: Best Papers from the Davis Conference on Qualitative Research. v. 3., Information Age Publishing..
Debebe, G. and K.A. Reinert. 2012. “Leading With Our Whole Selves: A Multiple Identity Approach to Leadership Development, in M. Miville and A. Fergeson (eds.), Handbook of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in Psychology, Springer.
Debebe, G. 2009, “Cross-Cultural Knowledge Creation: A Native American Case Study,” in Frank H. Columbus (ed.), Cultural Diversity: Issues, Challenges, and Perspectives, Nova Science Publishers.
Debebe, G., 2009, “Brain Waste,” in K.A. Reinert and R.S. Rajan (eds.), Princeton Encyclopedia of the World Economy, Princeton University Press.
Wrzesniewski, A., Dutton, J.E., and Debebe, G., 2002, “Gaining Access through Good Graces,” in M. Feldman, J. Bell, and M. Berger (eds.), Gaining Access to People and Organizations, Altamira Press.
Quinn, R.E., O’Neill, R., and Debebe, G., 1996, “Finding the Path to a Balanced Academic Life,” in P. Frost and S. Taylor (eds.), Rhythms of Academic Life, Sage Publications.
Professional Publications
Classes Taught
Leadership
Introduction to Organizational Behavior
Managing Cultural Diversity in Organizations
Qualitative Methods in Action Research
Organization Theory
Global Organizations