Two University of Tulsa Department of Psychology alumni, Joseph Abraham (B.S. ’87, M.A. ’90, Ph.D. ’93) and Rob Michel (Ph.D. ’00), have been named 2025 Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Fellows. The fellowship, one of the highest honors members can receive, recognizes those whose practice changes the course of the field and whose teaching guides the next generation of I-O psychologists.
With more than 30 years of experience in I-O psychology, Abraham now serves as vice president, Consulting Practice, Americas at Talogy, where he leads a team of more than 100 I-O psychologists and human resources professionals to support clients in the public and private sector in talent selection and development. He specializes in personnel selection, assessment design, and applied research and has collaborated on high-impact projects such as large-scale corporate and public safety selection systems in complex and sensitive environments. In addition to his work in I-O psychology, Abraham serves as an at-large member of the TU Alumni Association Board of Directors.
“UTulsa has been an important part of my life since before I started my collegiate journey as a chemical engineering undergraduate,” Abraham reminisced. “My Ph.D. in I-O psychology has led to a gratifying and fulfilling career, and many friendships I established in graduate school continue to this day. UTulsa has made a real difference in my life, and I am proud to say you will see me on campus often for sporting events, lectures, and other important occasions.”
Michel serves as the managing director of employment testing at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) overseeing the electric power industry’s employment testing consortium. He has developed and validated a variety of assessments throughout his career, including cognitive ability tests, personality inventories, situational judgment tests, and more. In addition to his work at EEI, Michel is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
“The I-O psychology program had a very practical, applied focus that really helped prepare me for my career,” he said. “The faculty were incredibly supportive, and the students in the program, both M.A. and Ph.D., were very collaborative.”
SIOP is the premier professional association for I-O psychology. They confront real-world problems by collaborating with leaders, communities, and policy makers, gather and energize those who are invested in understanding and improving workplace issues, and inspire action and inclusive dialogue.
“The I-O psychology graduate program and the UTulsa Department of Psychology are delighted with the honor that recognizes Joseph Abraham and Rob Michel for their outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to excellence in our field,” said Associate Professor Anupama Narayan, director of the industrial-organizational psychology program in the Kendall College of Arts & Sciences. “This recognition is a testament to their impact on the profession, and we extend our congratulations to them and look forward to their continued success.”