Exploring Careers and Identity 

Holly Slay Ferraro's research examines how people and organizations grow, learn, and enhance performance in the face of challenges to deeply held beliefs about who they are.  Her most recent research is focused on how people grapple with dimensions of self (e.g. age, race, gender) in making career decisions and in various contexts such as family businesses.  She has published articles in Human Relations, Human Resource Management and the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies. Dr. Ferraro's research on midlife/midcareer transitions won a Cutting Edge Award from Academy of Human Resource Development.  She received her Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Maryland, College Park.  Before pursuing her doctorate, Ferraro held technical and managerial positions in industry for over 12 years.