Biography

Dave Mayer, Ph.D. is the John H. Mitchell Professor of Business Ethics and Chair of the Management and Organizations Area at the Ross School of Business at the University Michigan. An award-winning researcher and highly rated and sought after teacher and speaker, he is an expert on helping people and organizations lead ethically, inclusively, and positively. 

Dave earned his BA in psychology from the University of California, Davis and Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the University of Maryland in 2004. He has published over 60 articles and book chapters including over 30 articles in leading refereed management and psychology journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Personnel Psychology. 

He has been awarded multiple career awards such as the Early Career Award from the International Society for Justice Research and the Cummings Scholarly Achievement Award from the Organizational Behavior (OB) Division of the Academy of Management. He is also a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, American Psychological Association, and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. And, he was honored with the Executive Education Teaching Impact Award at Michigan Ross.

Dave has presented his research over 200 time including at over 30 universities and at many of the top business schools around the world, including Stanford University (Graduate School of Business), University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Cornell University (Johnson), London Business School, New York University (Stern), Duke University (Fuqua), University of California, Berkeley (Haas), University of California, Los Angeles (Anderson), University of Virginia (Darden), University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler), University of Texas (McCombs), Vanderbilt University (Owen), Washington University (Olin), University of Toronto (Rotman), and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

He is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review and Fast Company, and his research and ideas have been covered in Bloomberg, Business Insider, CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Huffington Post, HR Magazine, LinkedIn, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, NPR, Psychology Today, Slate, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

He has worked with leaders in dozens of organizations around the globe to improve their leadership skills and to help them develop more positive work cultures. He regularly gives keynote addresses and conducts workshops in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Latest Faculty News & Research
Collectivistic leadership in context: An examination of how and when collective charismatic leadership relates to unit functioning
Authors
Ziegert, J. C., Graham, K., Piccolo, R. F., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2021
Authors
Ziegert, J. C., Graham, K., Piccolo, R. F., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies
Volume
28
Issue
2
Pages
112-136
Justice climate and work group outcomes: The role of coworker fair behavior and workgroup structure.
Authors
Ambrose, M. L., Rice, D. B., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2021
Authors
Ambrose, M. L., Rice, D. B., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Journal of Business Ethics
Volume
172
Issue
1
Pages
79-99
Creating an ethical organizational environment: The relationship between unit-level foundational ethical practices, ethical organizational climate and unethical behavior.
Authors
Kuenzi*, M., Mayer*, D. M., & Greenbaum, R. L.
Published Date
2020
Authors
Kuenzi*, M., Mayer*, D. M., & Greenbaum, R. L.
Source
Personnel Psychology
Volume
73
Issue
1
Pages
43-71
Show me the … family: How photos of meaningful relationships reduce unethical behavior at work
Authors
Hardin, A. E., Bauman, C. W., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2020
Authors
Hardin, A. E., Bauman, C. W., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Volume
161
Issue
1
Pages
93-108
The psychology of fairness: Why some Americans don’t believe the election results
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2020
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
The Conversation
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
Why you should encourage employees to display family photos at work
Authors
Hardin, A. E., Bauman, C., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2020
Authors
Hardin, A. E., Bauman, C., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Harvard Business Review
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
Leaders matter morally: The role of ethical leadership in shaping employee morale cognition and misconduct
Authors
Moore, C., Mayer, D. M., Chiang, F., Crossley, C. D., Karlesky, & Birtch, T. A. 2019
Published Date
2019
Authors
Moore, C., Mayer, D. M., Chiang, F., Crossley, C. D., Karlesky, & Birtch, T. A. 2019
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
Positive organizational scholarship: A lens to enrich organizational studies.
Authors
Spreitzer, G. M., Myers, C. G., Kopelman, S., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2019
Authors
Spreitzer, G. M., Myers, C. G., Kopelman, S., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Academy of Management Review
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
The money or the morals? The effectiveness of moral and economic language when selling social issues.
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Ong, M., Sonenshein, S., & Ashford, S. J. 2019.
Published Date
2019
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Ong, M., Sonenshein, S., & Ashford, S. J. 2019.
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
To get companies to take action on social issues, emphasize morals, not the business case
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Ong, M., Sonenshein, S., & Ashford, S. J.
Published Date
2019
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Ong, M., Sonenshein, S., & Ashford, S. J.
Source
Harvard Business Review
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
Why rich parents are more likely to be unethical
Authors
Mayer, D.M
Published Date
2019
Authors
Mayer, D.M
Source
The Conversation
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
How men get penalized for straying from masculine norms
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2018
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Harvard Business Review
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
More is less: Learning but not relaxing buffers the relationship between job stressors and deviance
Authors
Chen, Z., Mayer, D. M., & Hwang, E.
Published Date
2018
Authors
Chen, Z., Mayer, D. M., & Hwang, E.
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
103
Issue
1
Pages
123-136
Sending a clear signal: The joint effects of corporate social responsibility and task significance on employee citizenship behavior.
Authors
Ong, M., Mayer, D. M., & Tost, L. P.
Published Date
2018
Authors
Ong, M., Mayer, D. M., & Tost, L. P.
Source
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Volume
144
Issue
1
Pages
44-59
To cope with stress, try learning something new
Authors
Zhang, C., Myers, G. M., & Mayer, D.
Published Date
2018
Authors
Zhang, C., Myers, G. M., & Mayer, D.
Source
Harvard Business Review
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
Urban Meyer, Ohio State football, and how leaders ignore unethical behavior
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2018
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Harvard Business Review
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
1
Want to be happier and more successful? Learn to like other people
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2017
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Fast Company
4 ways to bounce back when you’re treated unfairly at work
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2016
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Fast Company
Unpacking the moral logic of third-party voting
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2016
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Fast Company
Why are some whistleblowers vilified and others celebrated?
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2016
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Harvard Business Review
Why we secretly want leaders who’ll be unethical on our behalf
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2016
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Fast Company
Why your hiring process keeps missing candidates’ character flaws
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2016
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Fast Company
You should probably compare yourself to others more, not less
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2016
Authors
Mayer, D. M.
Source
Fast Company
Can a leader be too ethical? The curvilinear effects of ethical leadership.
Authors
Stouten, J., van Dijke, M., Mayer, D. M., De Cremer, D., Euwema, M.
Published Date
2013
Authors
Stouten, J., van Dijke, M., Mayer, D. M., De Cremer, D., Euwema, M.
Source
Leadership Quarterly
Volume
24
Issue
1
Pages
680-695
Encouraging employees to report unethical conduct internally: It takes a village
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Nurmohamed, S., Treviño, L. K., Shapiro, D. L., & Schminke, M.
Published Date
2013
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Nurmohamed, S., Treviño, L. K., Shapiro, D. L., & Schminke, M.
Source
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Volume
121
Issue
2013
Pages
89-103
Leader mistreatment, employee hostility, and deviant behaviors: Integrating self-uncertainty and thwarted needs perspectives on deviance
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Thau, S., Workman, K., Van Dijke, M., & De Cremer, D.
Published Date
2012
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Thau, S., Workman, K., Van Dijke, M., & De Cremer, D.
Source
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Volume
117
Issue
1
Pages
24-40
When does procedural fairness promote organizational citizenship behavior? Integrating empowering leadership types in relational justice models
Authors
Van Dijke, M., De Cremer, D., Mayer, D. M., & van Quaquebeke, N.
Published Date
2012
Authors
Van Dijke, M., De Cremer, D., Mayer, D. M., & van Quaquebeke, N.
Source
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Volume
117
Issue
2
Pages
235-248
When leaders sacrifice: The effects of sense of power and belongingness on leader's self-sacrifice
Authors
Hoogervorst, N., De Cremer, D., van Dijke, M., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2012
Authors
Hoogervorst, N., De Cremer, D., van Dijke, M., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Leadership Quarterly
Volume
23
Issue
5
Pages
883-896
Why employees do bad things: Moral disengagement and unethical organizational behavior.
Authors
Moore, C., Detert, J. R., Treviño, L. K., Baker, V. L., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2012
Authors
Moore, C., Detert, J. R., Treviño, L. K., Baker, V. L., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Personnel Psychology
Volume
65
Issue
1
Pages
1-48
But affirmative action hurts us! Race-related beliefs shape perceptions of white disadvantage and policy unfairness
Authors
Shteynberg, G., Leslie, L. M., Knight, A. P., & Mayer, D. M. 2011
Published Date
2011
Authors
Shteynberg, G., Leslie, L. M., Knight, A. P., & Mayer, D. M. 2011
Source
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Volume
115
Issue
1
Pages
1-12
Why good guys finish last: The role of justification motives, cognition, and emotion in predicting retaliation against whistleblowers
Authors
Sumanth, J. J., Mayer, D. M., & Kay, V. S.
Published Date
2011
Authors
Sumanth, J. J., Mayer, D. M., & Kay, V. S.
Source
Organizational Psychology Review
Volume
1
Issue
2
Pages
165-184
Cooperating when "You" and "I" are treated fairly: The moderating role of leader prototypicality
Authors
De Cremer, D., Van Dijke, M., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2010
Authors
De Cremer, D., Van Dijke, M., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
95
Issue
6
Pages
1121-1133
Guest editor's introduction: On understanding ethical behavior and decision making: A behavioral ethics approach.
Authors
De Cremer, D., Mayer, D. M., & Schminke, M.
Published Date
2010
Authors
De Cremer, D., Mayer, D. M., & Schminke, M.
Source
Business Ethics Quarterly
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
1-6
The role of authority power in explaining procedural fairness effects
Authors
Van Dijke, M., De Cremer, D., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2010
Authors
Van Dijke, M., De Cremer, D., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
95
Issue
3
Pages
488-502
When do procedural fairness and outcome fairness interact to influence employees' work attitudes and behaviors? The moderating effect of uncertainty
Authors
De Cremer, D., Brockner, J., Fishman, A., van Dijke, M., van Olffen, W., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2010
Authors
De Cremer, D., Brockner, J., Fishman, A., van Dijke, M., van Olffen, W., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
95
Pages
291-304
Do inclusive leaders help reduce turnover in diverse groups? The moderating role of leader-member exchange in the diversity to turnover relationship
Authors
Nishii, L. H., & Mayer, D. M.
Published Date
2009
Authors
Nishii, L. H., & Mayer, D. M.
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
94
Issue
6
Pages
1412-1426
Good soldiers and good actors: Prosocial and impression management motives as interactive predictors of citizenship behavior
Authors
Grant, A. M., & Mayer, D. M
Published Date
2009
Authors
Grant, A. M., & Mayer, D. M
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
94
Issue
4
Pages
900-912
How low does ethical leadership flow? Test of a trickle-down model
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Kuenzi, M., Greenbaum, R., Bardes, M., & Salvador, R.
Published Date
2009
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Kuenzi, M., Greenbaum, R., Bardes, M., & Salvador, R.
Source
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Volume
108
Issue
1
Pages
1-13
Service attribute boundary conditions of the service climate-customer satisfaction link
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Ehrhart, M. G., & Schneider, B.
Published Date
2009
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Ehrhart, M. G., & Schneider, B.
Source
Academy of Management Journal
Volume
52
Issue
5
Pages
1034-1050
When do fair procedures not matter? A test of the identity violation effect
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Greenbaum, R., Kuenzi, M., & Shteynberg, G
Published Date
2009
Authors
Mayer, D. M., Greenbaum, R., Kuenzi, M., & Shteynberg, G
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
94
Issue
1
Pages
142-161
When does self-sacrificial leadership motivate prosocial behavior: It depends on followers' prevention focus
Authors
De Cremer, D., Mayer, D. M., Schouten, B. C., Bardes, M., & van Dijke, M
Published Date
2009
Authors
De Cremer, D., Mayer, D. M., Schouten, B. C., Bardes, M., & van Dijke, M
Source
Journal of Applied Psychology
Volume
94
Issue
4
Pages
887-899
Psychological perspectives on ethical behavior and decision making
Authors
Mayer, D. M, Kuenzi, M., & Greenbaum, R. L.
Published Date
2009
Authors
Mayer, D. M, Kuenzi, M., & Greenbaum, R. L.
Source
Information Age Publishing
Making ethical climate a mainstream management topic: A review, critique, and prescription for the empirical research on ethical climate
D. De Cremer