Student and Alumni Stories

Students and alumni of the Organizational Dynamics programs develop a more intellectual perspective of their workplace environments and apply what they’ve learned to communicate effectively, address complex organizational challenges and manage through change. Read about how current and past students, who represent multiple sectors of the global workforce, continue to thrive in their careers.

Adam Thiel
Adam Thiel, MPhil '25—expected

Fire Commissioner, Philadelphia Fire Department

Emergency services relies on teamwork, says Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel (MPhil `23—expected); studying the latest research on teams and organizations is one way he can support his staff and their service to the city.
Kelly Rebmann Shepperson
Kelly Rebmann Shepperson, MSOD ’22

Executive Coach & Head, Organizational Capability & Transformation, Sanofi Vaccines

Learn how Kelly Rebmann Shepperson catalyzed the next phase of her career with the Penn Organizational Dynamics Programs.
Ebighe Emafo
Ebighe Emafo, MPhil ’22

Senior Vice President, People & Culture, International Rescue Committee

Ebighe Emafo wanted to study organizational change to continue improving employee experience. Now he is scaling up his knowledge to help organizations serve vulnerable communities.
Rachel S. Hudson
Rachel S. Hudson, MPhil ’21

Executive coach, consultant, and PhD candidate at Fielding Graduate University

For Rachel, Organizational Dynamics helped her identify a passion for human and organization development—and prepared her pathway to a PhD.
Nur Mustafa
Nur Mustafa, MSOD '12

Senior Manager of Research and Development Early in Career Strategy at Johnson & Johnson – Medical Devices Sector

Nur Mustafa wants organizations to invest in people—and work on removing systemic barriers and unconscious biases. Organizational Dynamics helps her recruit and develop a diverse team.
Larry K. Hampton, PhD
Larry K. Hampton, PhD, MSOD '21

Team Lead, Quality Operations, Pfizer Global Services

Larry Hampton returned to Penn to complete his Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics to reimagine leadership for the 21st-century workplace.
Halee Watel
Halee Watel, MSOD '21

Operations Manager, Digital Health Office at Baylor Scott & White Health

Halee was looking for a professional master’s program that would help her grow as a person as well as a professional; Organizational Dynamics exceeded her expectations.
Felicia LeSure
Felicia LeSure, MSOD ’20

Executive Assistant at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

Felicia turned her final Organizational Dynamics course in a capstone, and turned her capstone into a grant-funded initiative for diversity and leadership development in her organization.
Nicole Washington
Nicole Washington, MSOD '24—expected

Attending Physician, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

See how her Organizational Dynamics courses so far have supported Nicole in her transition to a medical role with operational as well as clinical duties.
Alicia Del Real has always been interested in the human side of leadership.
Alicia Del Real, MSOD '17

President, Partner, Executive Coach, The Center for Advanced Emotional Intelligence

As someone who finds joy in helping individuals reach their potential, Alicia was able to harness that power through her Organizational Dynamics studies and then make it her full-time profession.
TJ Topercer, MSOD '19

Instructor and Naval Staff Officer, Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School

Hear about TJ’s experiences with the diverse student body and dedicated faculty of Organizational Dynamics.
Inam Ur-Rahman, MPhil '15

Quality Engineer, V22 Osprey Program, The Boeing Company

Discover more on Inam’s education in leadership, change management, global organizations and sustainable development at Penn.
Peter Galasinao, MPhil '12

Senior Managing Director of Mergers and Acquisitions Practice, Krauter & Company

Gain US Navy veteran Peter’s insight on Penn’s unrivaled academics and faculty.
Cecil applied Organizational Dynamics to the corporate world and changed his approach to workplace relationships.
Cecil Johnson, MSOD '14

Head, Talent Pool Development & Planning, Johnson & Johnson

Learn how Cecil applied Organizational Dynamics to the corporate world and changed his approach to workplace relationships.
Ashley Nettuno, MSOD '15

Team Leader, Retail Customer Logistics, Johnson & Johnson

Discover how Ashley combined her technical business background with psychology and sociology to become a well-rounded professional leader.
Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics, University of Pennsylvania, 2014
Ana Margarita Olivos, MSOD '14

Founder and CEO, Humana Consultores en Dinámica Organizacional

Learn about Ana’s journey to gain skills at Penn to help her homeland of Chile manage complex operational change.
Tina Simmons, MSOD '06

Senior Vice President, Human Resources Central Division, Comcast Cable

Explore how Tina advanced her career at Comcast through the skills and theories she learned in Organizational Dynamics.
Bruce Friedman, MSOD '17

Vice President of Finance and Administration, Immaculata University

Discover how Organizational Dynamics helped Bruce grow into his role and learn to manage teams effectively.
Madeline Bell, MSOD '04

President and Chief Executive Officer, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Learn how the principles of Organizational Dynamics apply to healthcare through Madeline, who transitioned into her current role after completing her degree.
Holly Cronin
Holly Cronin, MSOD '14

PhD Student, McGill University & Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute ‘18—expected

Explore the wide range of topics Holly studied while at Penn—from microfinance and women’s empowerment in India to sustainable development in Sweden.

Organizational Dynamics Programs Concentrations

MSOD and MPhil students can deepen their knowledge through one of our three degree concentrations.

Looking for financial assistance?

Learn about the options at Penn.

Meet our faculty

Derek Newberry is a lecturer at Penn and a leadership development consultant in the areas of interpersonal communication, collaboration and corporate culture.