Directors
Aaron C. Kay, PhD
Aaron Kay is the J. Rex Fuqua Professor of Management at the Fuqua School of Business and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. Aaron co-leads the VTRI’s research efforts. Learn more about Aaron’s research here.
David K. Sherman, PhD
David Sherman is a Professor at the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. David co-leads the VTRI’s research efforts. Learn more about David’s research here.
Sean Kelley
Sean Kelley is an Executive in Residence at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Sean Kelley is nationally recognized as a leading expert in corporate Military Affairs, recruiting, and transition programs. Sean architected Military Affairs strategies for both Microsoft and Amazon, firsts for each company and establishing both as leaders for the industry globally. Sean will manage relationships across industry, government and VSO to further our mission. He leads the Industry Advocacy and Change Leadership Committee, which will work to enable theory to practice applications of research to drive meaningful change across industry and through government agencies via policy advocacy. Learn more about Sean here.
Affiliated Researchers
Connor Gibbs
Connor Gibbs is pursuing his PhD in social psychology at University of California, Santa Barbara. In addition to his academic work, Connor has worked as an independent research consultant focusing on implicit bias workshop development and evaluation. Connor’s research focuses on the wise application of psychological theory to improve the lives of others. At the VTRI, one of Connor’s research programs focuses on understanding how needs for structure and order relate to veteran success and adjustment in transitions to the workforce.
Lauren Ortosky
Lauren Ortosky is pursuing her PhD in social psychology at University of California, Santa Barbara. Lauren spent several years as a consultant focusing on leadership development and executive career transition, and draws on that experience to inform her research. For the VTRI, Lauren has been exploring the deeply entrenched reasons that underlie veteran under-employment.
Matthew Stanley
Matthew Stanley is pursuing his PhD in psychology and neuroscience at Duke University. Matt’s research focuses on how processes of memory and reasoning affect judgments of morality and behavior more generally. At the VTRI, one of Matt’s research programs focuses on understanding how companies can frame themselves in job ads in ways that make them more appealing to veterans.
Charles Lewis
Captain Charles Lewis is an active duty Air Force officer pursuing his PhD in management and organizations at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Charles has served 7 years as a financial management officer and instructor of management at the United States Air Force Academy, where he taught undergraduate management courses in organizational behavior, development, and change. At the VTRI, Charles will focus on the drivers of symbiotic employee and veteran-employee success and retention