Tripathi Joins SESP Faculty
Ritu Tripathi, an expert in organizational behavior and cross-cultural psychology, has joined Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy as assistant professor of instruction.
Tripathi will be developing and teaching courses on global leadership, international negotiations, and cross-cultural management for both the undergraduate and professional master’s programs. She’ll also serve as a capstone advisor for the Master’s in Learning and Organizational Change program.
Over the summer, she taught a class for the dual degree Master's in Applied Economics and Social and Economic Policy program, where students study applied economics and how it plays out in real world policies in both Chinese and US contexts.
"We're delighted that Ritu has joined our SESP community,” said Kimberly Scott, associate dean for innovation and program development at the School of Education and Social Policy. “She is a dynamic instructor whose research research and teaching about global leadership advances our commitment to prepare students to lead change around the world.”
Tripathi most recently was assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India where she taught core and elective MBA courses. She also designed and taught short modules for working executives and business leaders.
“I am intrigued by the vibrant and intellectually invigorating thoughts, people, courses and programs focusing on organizational issues nestled in the School of Education and Social Policy,” she said. “Personally, I couldn't have found a better fit of my research and teaching interests. I’m also drawn to the air of collegiality, warmth, and encouragement that one can see and feel all around.”
Tripathi has published in high-impact scholarly journals such as Human Resource Management, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Journal of Research in Personality, Cross-cultural and Strategic Management –among others.
She has also penned several opinion pieces in mainstream media outlets such as Forbes (India) and the Times of India on topics such as whether AI helps or hurts employee productivity and the mental hurdles that shape the work from home experience.
Tripathi received her doctorate in social psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she received the prestigious Dean’s Scholar Award. Her dissertation explored cultural variations in the motivational impact of autonomy and obligations among Indian and American corporate professionals.
Prior to UIC, Tripathi earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from the University of Allahabad, India.