Associate Professor, School of Public and International Affairs
Academic Director, Graduate Programs in Negotiation and Conflict Management
Education
Ph.D., Columbia University
M.Phil., Columbia University
M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University
B.A., University of Southern California
As a social and organizational psychologist by training, my professional and research interests broadly focus on the psychology of conflict and diversity management in the workplace. Specifically, I have conducted research on social categorization processes and triggered displaced aggression in intergroup contexts, effective diversity training evaluation, team conflict management dynamics, and mindful interventions in online group learning. Some of my current research projects involve exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion in alternative dispute resolution practice, examining the impact of anti-bias interventions on workplace perceptions and outcomes, and developing trauma-informed negotiation and conflict management approaches in organizations. My core teaching interests include organizational conflict management dynamics, interventions, and systems, workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as organizational change and development.
Aside from my academic and teaching experiences, I have also spent several years as an experienced professional in strategic change consulting, organizational development, market research, marketing, and business development in both private and nonprofit sectors. I have served as a strategic change advisor and resource to business leaders and senior executives at PwC, a global professional services firm, and helped support large-scale transformative change at the retail and consumer products division of The Walt Disney Company. I have also worked as part of the organizational research team at Catalyst, a New York-based nonprofit organization that is committed to creating and building more diverse and inclusive workplaces around the globe. Today, I continue to provide my research-informed expertise and knowledge to consult with organizations, both large and small, in various sectors across the country.
Team conflict dynamics and processes
Workplace conflict management
Workforce diversity and inclusion interventions
Organizational systems change and development
Organizational behavior and psychology
Organizational change and development
Social psychology and inter-group relations
Negotiation and conflict management
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Book Chapters
Kim, R., & Tan, Y. R. (2023). Using participatory mixed methods to study “grand challenges”: An illustrative case of diversity, equity, and inclusion change research in organizations. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Working Paper
Vasquez, E., Tan, Y. R., & Pina, A. (2025). Brooding breeds belligerence: The mediating role of anger rumination on workplace aggression.
Kim, R., & Tan, Y. R. (2025). How referrals backfire: The impact of nonnative accent, disclosure, and self-other promotion on funding decisions. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: An International Journal.
Mielniczuk, E., Baba, J., Tan, Y. R., Cichocka, A., & Cislak, A. (2025). Navigating workplace distress: The role of organizational climate and supervisor stress. Employee Relations.
Michaels, J. L., Tan, Y. R., & Strawinska-Zanko, U. (2025). The dynamic interplay among conflict management, emotions, identity, and performance in teams: Evidence from a longitudinal study.
Kim, R., & Tan, Y. R. 85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, "When referrals backfire: The impact of nonnative accent, disclosure, and self-other promotion on funding decisions.," The Academy of Management, Copenhagen, Denmark. (2025).
Tan, Y. R. Robert L. Bogomolny (RLB) Research Engagement Day (RED) Talks, "Trauma-informed negotiation and conflict management in the workplace," The University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. (2025).
Tan, Y. R., & Kim, R. 37th Annual Conference of the International Association for Conflict Management, "When allyship backfires: How nonnative accent and disclosure agent affect evaluations and decisions in an entrepreneurial context," International Association for Conflict Management, Singapore. (2024).
Tan, Y. R. Robert L. Bogomolny (RLB) Research Engagement Day (RED) Talks, "Exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practice: Reflections and insights from ADR practitioners," The University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. (2023).
Tan, Y. R. EBAA Annual Meeting, "Managing and resolving conflict with staff and organizational partners.," The Eye Bank Association of America, Baltimore, MD.. (2022).
Tan, Y. R. Robert L. Bogomolny (RLB) Research Engagement Day (RED) Talks, "Addressing intersectional microaggressions in the workplace using a conflict management perspective," The University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. (2022).
Tan, Y. R. The UMBrella Coaching Program, "Virtual Panel on NegoSHEators," The UMBrella Coaching Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore, Online. (2022).
Tan, Y. R. ADR Vantage Webinar, "Navigating DEI in ADR Practice," ADR Vantage, Inc., Virtual. (2021).
Tan, Yunzi Rae, "CPA Faculty Summer Research Stipend" Sponsored by College of Public Affairs, The University of Baltimore, $5000. (2025).
Farley, Sally Dew, King, Kahlil , Mitchell, Thomas , Tan, Yunzi Rae, Wynne, Kevin , Adler, Joseph , "Provost’s Grant for Collaboration and Innovation" Sponsored by Office of the Provost, The University of Baltimore, $30000. (2025).
Tan, Yunzi Rae, "CPA Faculty Summer Research Stipend" Sponsored by College of Public Affairs, The University of Baltimore, $3000. (2024).
Tan, Yunzi Rae, "CPA Faculty Summer Research Stipend" Sponsored by College of Public Affairs, The University of Baltimore, $5000. (2023).
Tan, Yunzi Rae, "CPA Faculty Summer Research Stipend" Sponsored by College of Public Affairs, The University of Baltimore, $7000. (2022).
Tan, Yunzi Rae, "CPA Faculty Summer Research Stipend" Sponsored by College of Public Affairs, The University of Baltimore, $5000. (2021).
Tan, Yunzi Rae, "SPIA Faculty Summer Research Award" Sponsored by College of Public Affairs, The University of Baltimore, $1345. (2020).
Tan, Yunzi Rae, Mislin, Alexandra , Elias, Allison Louise, Arakelyan, Lilia , "NTR Research Grant" Sponsored by The Negotiation and Team Resources Institute, Other, $9825. (2025 - 2027). (Not Funded)
"Investigating the impact of trauma on workplace negotiation and evaluating a trauma-informed conflict intervention framework" (Planning)
"Navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion in alternative dispute resolution (ADR): Recommendations and insights from ADR practitioners." (Writing Results)