
Dr. Oscar Holmes IV
Professor & Director, Rutgers University Student Executive (RUSE) Program
Human Resources/Organizational Behavior
Office: BSB 332
Phone: (856) 225-6593
Ph.D., The University of Alabama
Research Interests: Main research interests include examining how leaders can maximize productivity and well-being by fostering more inclusive environments that mitigate interpersonal and organizational threats. Specifically, his research investigates how people respond to social identity threats and construct positive identities as well as factors that lead to biased decision-making. His research has been published in several academic journals, such as the Academy of Management Annals, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Africa Journal of Management, Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.
Courses Taught: Leadership and Managing Human Capital; Organizational Behavior; Crisis Management; Conflict Resolution and Negotiation; DEI Management
Professional Activities, Honors and Awards:
- Philadelphia Tribune 2020 Top 10 Under 40 Most Influential African Americans to Watch
- Diversity MBA 2020 Top 100 Under 50 Emerging and Executive Leaders
- Front Runner New Jersey 2020 African American Power List
- Philadelphia Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree (2020)
- Rutgers University Leaders in Faculty Diversity Award (2020) $1,000 Honorarium
- Rutgers-Camden Remarkable 31 Honoree (March 2020)
- New Jersey Policy Research Organization Foundation Bright Idea Award for Academy of Management Annals Publication (2018)
- Mid-Atlantic Association of College of Business Administration (MAACBA) Innovation in Teaching Award (2018)
- 2018 Poets & Quants 40 Under 40 Best Business Professors
- AOM GDO Executive Committee Representative-At-Large (2014-2017)
- 2016 Rutgers Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence
- 2015 Rutgers School of Business Annual Faculty Research Award
- 2015 Rutgers Chancellor’s Academic Civic Engagement Award
- 2015 A.Q.U.A.Corps Partnership Award
- 2015 Heize 35 Doctors Under 35
- 2014 Rutgers Digital Teaching Fellowship
- 2014 Rutgers Civic Engagement Faculty Fellow
Representative Publications:
- Holmes IV, O. (Ed.). (2025). Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Effective Strategies for Management Education (Volume 2), Palgrave Macmillan.
- Holmes IV, O. (Ed.). (2025). Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Effective Strategies for Organizations (Volume 1), Palgrave Macmillan.
- King, E., Hebl, M., Corrington, A.*, Dhanani, L. Y.*, Holmes IV, O.*, Lindsey, A. P.*, Madera, J.*, Maneethai, D.*, Martinez, L.*, Ng, E. S.*, Nittrouer, C. L.*, Sabat, I.*, Sawyer, K.*, & Thoroughgood, C.* (2024). Understanding and Addressing the Health Implications of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation. Occupational Health Science, 8, (1), 1-41.
- Ruggs, E. N. & Holmes IV, O. (August 6, 2024). Why dropping the E in DEI is a mistake. Harvard Business Review Online.
* Selected as one of the 16 articles on Harvard Business Review’s Best of 2024 articles list (one of the six in the Managing Organizations category). - Roberson, Q. M., Ruggs, E. N., Pichler, S., & Holmes IV, O. (2024). LGBTQ Systems: A Framework and Future Research Agenda. Journal of Management, 50, (3), 1145-1173.
- Holmes IV, O., Smith, A. N., Loyd, D. L., & Gutiérrez, A. S. (2022). Scholars of color explore bias in academe: Calling in allies and sharing affirmations for us by us. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 173, 1-7. (Editorial Board Reviewed Invited Submission)
- Holmes IV, O*., Jiang, K*., Avery, D., McKay, P., Oh, I., & Tillman, C. J. (2021) A meta-analysis of 25 years of diversity climate research. Journal of Management, 47, (6), 1357-1382.
- Holmes IV, O. (2020). Police Brutality and Four Other Ways Racism Kills Black People. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 39, (7), 803-809.
*Police Brutality and the Less Conspicuous Ways Racism Kills. TEDxRutgersCamden Talk was viewed over 2,500 times; TEDx Talk elevated to TED.com global platform (2.5.22) - Holmes IV, O., Lopiano, G., Hall, E.V. (2019). A review of compensatory strategies to mitigate bias. Personnel Assessment and Decisions, 5, (2), 23-34. (Special Issue: Reducing Discrimination in the Workplace).
- Roberson, Q., Holmes IV, O., Perry, J. L. (2017). Transforming research on diversity and firm performance: A dynamic capabilities perspective. Academy of Management Annals, 11, (1), 189-216.
- Holmes IV, O., Whitman, M. V., Campbell, K., Johnson, D. E. (2016). Exploring the social identity threat response framework. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 35, (3), 205-220.
- Okulicz-Kozaryn, A., Holmes IV, O., & Avery, D. R. (2014). The Subjective well-being political paradox: Happy welfare states and unhappy liberals. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99, (6), 1300-1308.
- Whitman, M. V., Halbesleben, J. R. B., & Holmes IV, O. (2014). Abusive supervision and feedback avoidance: The mediating role of emotional exhaustion. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 35, 28-53.
- Holmes IV, O. (2012). Hazing and pledging in Alpha Phi Alpha: An organizational behavior perspective. In G. S. Parks & S. M. Bradley (Eds.), Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Greatness, the Demands of Transcendence (pp.313-350). Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky.