McKenzie Preston

Biography

McKenzie Preston joined New York University Stern School of Business as an Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations in July 2024.

His research examines questions at the intersection of leadership and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to generate novel organizational theory and practical guidance related to the role of leadership in driving—or obstructing—social change. Specifically, his research examines topics related to bias in leader evaluations and selection, as well as the dynamics between leaders and employees as they attempt to influence one another to engage in social advocacy. His work documents that leader and employee perspectives are often at odds when it comes to DEI matters; as a result, well-intentioned actions on DEI matters often backfire.

His research has been published in leading management and applied psychology journals, such as Academy of Management Journal (AMJ), Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (OBHDP), and Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior.

Prior joining NYU Stern, he also worked as a research assistant at Columbia Business School. Additionally, he has held industry roles as a leadership development consultant and marketing manager for multinational firms.

He received his BA in Business Administration from Georgia Gwinnett College, his MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Georgia, his MS in Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his PhD in Management from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Research Interests

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)
• Leadership
• Race, Gender, Social Class
• Social Cognition
• Inequality

Courses Taught

• Intro to Management and Organizations

Academic Background

PhD, Management
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

MS, Management
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

MA, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
University of Georgia

BS, Business Administration
Georgia Gwinnett College