Taylor Elizabeth Sparks - Department of Psychology - University of ...

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCETaylor Elizabeth Sparks930 Barnett Shoals Road Apt. 1609 • Athens, GA 30605 • tsparks@uga.edu • 336.202.1320Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Georgia, Athens, GAExpected May, 2012Major: Industrial‐Organizational PsychologyDissertation:GPA: 4.0Master of Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA May 8, 2010Major: Industrial‐Organizational PsychologyThesis: “Navigating the Leadership Labyrinth: Perceived Career Outcomes for Men and Women Executives”GPA: 4.0Bachelor of Arts, Wake Forest University, Winston‐Salem, NCMay 21, 2007Major: Honors in Psychology, SpanishThesis: “Sex Stereotypes in Hispanic versus Caucasian Children”GPA: 3.86 Class Rank: 22/967Summa cum LaudeRELEVANT GRADUATE COURSEWORK• Advanced Experimental Psychology• Advanced Industrial Psychology• Advanced Social Psychology• Applied Regression Methods in Psychology• Behind the Scenes at ORM• Cognitive Psychology• Confirmatory Factor Analysis• Exploratory Factor Analysis• Industrial Psychology• Organizational Behavior (Micro‐Level Topics)• Organizational Behavior (Meso‐Level Topics)• Organizational Leadership• Organizational Psychology• Psychology of Prejudice• Psychometrics• Statistics in Psychological Research• Structural Equation ModelingRELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEGraduate Research Assistant, The University of Georgia, Athens, GAMay 2009‐PresentProject MERITS• Travel nationally to collect data for a multi‐million dollar NIDA‐funded grant examining work attitudes,relationships, and organizational policies and features• Help build and manage several large databases that include dyadic, longitudinal data• Assist with administrative duties that support the functioning of the grant such as survey development, projectplanning, data entry, and supply management• Conduct confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses to validate scales• Develop method of handling missing data in a longitudinal dataset• Write and edit technical reports for advisory board and participating organizations• Advise colleagues regarding data analyses and procedures for grant‐related researchHuman Resources Intern, Cox Communications, Inc., Atlanta, GAMay 2010‐December 2010National Talent & Development Organization• Designed & established ‘Learning Dashboard’ to document business impact of key learning initiatives• Managed the collection of data on key performance metrics pertaining to specific jobs and training programs• Contributed to the development of job profiles for over 20 business‐to‐business sales and sales manager positions• Conducted selection assessment evaluation & validation• Developed & distributed RFP for company‐wide selection tools, evaluated responses, and made data‐drivensuggestions to superiors• Evaluated responses to RPO & assisted with crafting the business case for RPO usage• Updated selection policies & procedures in accordance with organization‐wide standardization efforts

T. E. Sparks 2Capstone Service Learning Project Supervisor, Terry College of Business, Athens, GA August 2008‐December 2009The Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA)• Supervised & managed the operation of eleven capstone service learning projects (CSLPs) in which students actedas consultants for non‐profit organizations• Served as liaison between students, members of partner non‐profit organizations, & ILA faculty & staff members• Served as an ILA Program Selection Committee memberResearch Consultant, Project Manager, United Parcel Service (UPS), Atlanta, GA August 2007‐August 2009• Supervised graduate & undergraduate researchers who content analyzed responses to Employee Pulse Survey(EPS)• Ensured prompt delivery of 17 technical reports with findings from various organizational functions & regions• Coded & analyzed Industrial Engineer Regrettable Loss Survey• Coded & analyzed Employee Relations Index (ERI)• Compiled results & wrote technical reportHuman Resources Consultant, Service Learning Project, Athens, GA August‐December 2008• Conducted organizational needs assessment at UGA Alumni Association• Developed recommendations for an employee socialization & development program based on literature review,survey findings, & interviewsResearch Assistant, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, NCMay‐August 2008Client Evaluation ServicesMay‐August 2007• Populated the Global Organizational Leadership Development (GOLD) Evaluation SharePoint site• Wrote extensive literature reviews in key GOLD areas: Talent Sustainability/Human Capital, Change Leadership,Leadership Strategy, Culture Transformation, Key Variables in Organizational Change & Development• Created GOLD Evaluation resource notebook with all of the key documents from the research & informationcollected• Served as a member of research team coding managerial interviews in an effort to make developmentalinferences• Developed method for communicating information about leadership development initiatives to corporate clientsRELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCEProgram Coordinator , UNC‐G Division of Continual Learning, Greensboro, NCUNC‐G All Arts & Sciences Camp• Designed & implemented a counselor training program; Supervised counselors‐in‐trainingMay‐August 2006AWARDS & RECOGNITION• Richard L. Marsh Mentoring Award, Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, March 2011This award was created to commemorate Dr. Rich Marsh’s extraordinary commitment to mentoring students. Theaward is given annually to a graduate student who is deeply committed to research mentoring.• Travel Grant Recipient, The University of Georgia Graduate School, October 2010Recipient of $650 travel grant to present research at the meeting of the Southern Management Association in St.Pete Beach, Florida• Travel Grant Recipient, The University of Georgia Graduate School, August 2010Recipient of $574.90 travel grant to present research at the meeting of the Academy of Management in Montreal,Quebec• Travel Grant Recipient, The University of Georgia Graduate School, April 2010Recipient of $700 travel grant to present research at the meeting of the Society for Industrial & OrganizationalPsychology in Atlanta, GA• Herbert Zimmer Award, Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, April 2010Awarded annually to recognize outstanding research achievement and potential among the graduate studentsfrom the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Program ($100 scholarship awarded)• Top Poster Recognition, SIOP Annual Conference, April 2009

• UPS Corporate Scholar Fellowship, University of Georgia, 2007‐2008• Phi Beta Kappa Society• Psychology Departmental Honors, Wake Forest University, May 2007• Carswell Scholar, Wake Forest University, 2006‐2007• Dean’s List, Wake Forest University, Fall 2003‐Spring 2007T. E. Sparks 3ORGANIZATIONS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS• Founder and Chair, Psychology Graduate Student Committee, University of Georgia, 2010• Student Member, Academy of Management, 2010‐present• Student Member, Southern Management Association (SMA), 2009‐present• Student Member, Society for Industrial Organizational Psychologists (SIOP), 2007‐present• Student Member, North Carolina Industrial Organizational Psychologists (NCIOP), 2007‐present• Industrial/Organizational Psychology Student Association (IOPSA), University of Georgia, 2007‐present• IOPSA President, 2009‐2010• IOPSA Vice President of Programs, 2008‐2009• IOPSA Recruitment Committee Chair, 2007‐2008• Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, Wake Forest University• Psychology Undergraduate Studies Committee, Wake Forest University• Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society, Wake Forest UniversityREFEREED PUBLICATIONSGentry. W.A., & Sparks, T.E. (in press). A convergence/divergence perspective of leadership competencies managersbelieve are most important for success in organizations: A cross‐cultural multilevel analysis of 40 Countries.Journal of Business and Psychology.Sparks, T.E., & Gentry, W.A. (2008). Leadership competencies: An exploratory study of what is important now andwhat has changed since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Journal of Leadership Studies, 2, 22‐35.MANUSCRIPTS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEWEby, L.T., Sparks, T.E., & Evans, L. Positive and Negative Outcomes Associated with Going Smoke‐free in SubstanceAbuse Treatment: The NY State Experience. (Submitted to Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment).Sparks, T.E., & Kuhnert, K.W. Navigating the Leadership Labyrinth: New Twists and Turns?CHAIRED SYMPOSIASparks, T.E. & Eckart, R. (Chairs; October, 2010).Every Rose Has its Thorns: Prickly Yet Perennial Issues inOrganizational Research. Symposium to be presented at the Annual Southern Management Association Meeting,St. Pete Beach, Florida.Sparks, T.E. & Eby, L.T. (Chairs; August, 2010) Workplace Features and Employee Wellbeing: An Occupational HealthPerspective. Symposium presented at the 70 th Annual Academy of Management Meeting, Montreal, Canada.CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONSSparks, T.E., Eckart, R. L. & Eby, L.T. (2012, April). Weighing in on the JD‐R Model with Relative Weights. Poster sessionsubmitted to be presented at the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology Conference, Houston, TX.Sparks, T.E., Kinkade, K., & Eby. L.T. (2011, October). Turning tragedy into meaning: An examination of the impact ofpatient death on substance abuse counselor attitudes toward work and life. Poster session submitted to bepresented at the Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR) Conference, Fairfax, VA.Sparks, T.E., & Kuhnert, K.W. (2011, April). Navigating the leadership labyrinth: Perceived outcomes for men andwomen. Poster session presented at the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology Conference, Chicago, IL.Sparks, T.E., Curtis, S.L., & Lance, C.E. (2010, August). A longitudinal examination of workplace mentoring functions asbuffers against burnout. In Sparks, T.E. & Eby, L.T. (Chairs) Workplace Features and Employee Wellbeing: AnOccupational Health Perspective. Symposium presented at the 70 th Annual Academy of Management Meeting,Montreal, Canada.Eby, L.T., Sparks, T.E., & Evans, E. (2010, April). Positive and Negative Outcomes Associated with Going Smoke‐free inSubstance Abuse Treatment: The NY State Experience. Poster session presented at the NIDA Blending Conference,

T. E. Sparks 4Albuquerque, New Mexico.Sparks, T.E., & Burk, H.G. (2010, April). Coping with workplace burnout: The role of political skill. Poster sessionpresented at the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology Conference, Atlanta, GA. *Interactive PosterSession*Sparks, T. E., & Gentry. W. A. (2009, April). Participative management: A multilevel analysis for a universal leadershipculture. Poster session presented at the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology Conference, New Orleans,LA. *Featured Top Poster at the SIOP All‐Conference Reception*Boggs, A., Sparks, T., Hilimire, K. & Sauer, J. (2009). MBTI Personality Preferences as Predictors of ManagerialDerailment. Poster presented at the 32 nd Annual Convention of Behavioral Sciences, the University of Georgia,Athens, Georgia.Sparks, T. E., & Gentry. W. A. (2008, April). Leadership competencies: What has changed since 9/11? Poster sessionpresented at the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology Conference, San Francisco, CA. *InteractivePoster Session*Cox, B. D., Gentry, W. A., Sparks, T. E., Mondore, S. P., & Kuhnert, K. W. (2008, April). Participative management as anindicator of managerial success and derailment. Poster session presented at the Society for Industrial OrganizationalPsychology Conference, San Francisco, CA.TECHNICAL REPORTSEby, L. T., Sparks, T., Kinkade, K., Maher, C., Birkelbach, D., & Rothrauff, T. (2010). Project MERITS II Year 3 summaryreport. University of Georgia Institute for Behavioral Research.Eby, L. T., Burk, H., Birkelbach, D., Sauer, J., Sparks, T., & Curtis, S. (2009). Project MERITS I Year 3 summary report.University of Georgia Institute for Behavioral Research.Eby, L. T., Sauer, J., Maher, C., Burk, H., Birkelbach, D., Sparks, T., & Curtis, S. (2009). Project MERITS II Year 2 summaryreport. University of Georgia Institute for Behavioral Research.Sparks, T.E., & Morrison, M.A. (2009). APP Climate Survey 2007 to 2009 Comparison Report.Sparks, T.E. & Burk, H.G. (2008). UGA Alumni Association employee development recommendations.TEACHING EXPERIENCEPsychology Department, University of Georgia, Athens , GA Spring 2011, Fall 2011• Graduate Teaching Assistant, Psychology of the Workplace• Managed classroom responsibilities for 40 upper‐class undergraduate students• Lectured on various topics related to Industrial‐Organizational Psychology, research methods, and consultingin organizations• Provided individual coaching for students on conducting extracurricular research projects, applying tograduate school, setting career goals, and developing professionallyDepartment of Agriculture, University of Georgia, Athens , GA Fall 2010, Spring 2011• Guest Lecturer, Agriculture Leadership & Service, “Gender & Leadership”Psychology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA Fall 2010• Workshop Instructor, Introduction to the Mplus Statistical Package• Developed and led a 5‐week workshop for faculty members and graduate students on the basics of theMplus statistical software covering topics such as path analysis, regression, exploratory and confirmatoryfactor analysis, structural equation modeling, measurement invariance, and latent growth modelingTerry College of Business, University of Georgia, Athens, GA Fall 2009• Teaching Assistant & Guest Lecturer, Leadership in Organizations• “Introduction to Consulting in Organizations”• “What’s New in Developing Leaders?”• “Communicating with the Client–Developing a Contract”• “Project Lifespan and Project Scope Management”• “Engaging in Crucial Conversations”

T. E. Sparks 5Psychology Department, University of Georgia, Athens , GA Fall 2008, Fall 2009• Guest Lecturer, Psychology of the Workplace, “Employee Compensation Systems”• Guest Lecturer, Seminar in Leadership, “Understanding Yourself: Personality Type Preferences & the MBTI”• Guest Lecturer, Seminar in Leadership, “Women in Leadership”COMPUTER SKILLS• Mastery of Statistical Software: SPSS, LISREL, Mplus• Mastery of Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPointLANGUAGES• English – native language• Spanish –speak, read, & write with high proficiency