“Maddie has the intellectual curiosity to ask interesting questions paired with persistence and determination to answer them. Her commitment to the process of scientific discovery as an undergraduate student is inspiring.” – Eean Crawford, Associate Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship

• Hometown: Naperville, IL
• Faculty mentor/advisor: Dr. Eean Crawford
• What is your degree program and expected graduation date? I am currently pursuing a BBA in Management and will graduate in May 2022.
• Please describe your research: My research focuses on how employees react to a manager’s conflict management style. Specifically, I want to know how the quality of the relationship between a manager and employee affects the employee’s job satisfaction and performance given their manager’s typical approach to dealing with conflicts at work.
• In simple terms, why does this research matter? Workplace conflict has been persistent in organizations for years. It is generally detrimental for a company’s success. In recent years, research has pointed to the importance of the employee-manager relationship as central to organizational functioning. Understanding the role that conflict management plays in the employee-manager relationship can improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• How soon after starting at the University of Iowa were you able to participate in research? I started my research during my third year of undergraduate at the University of Iowa.
• How has being involved in research made you more successful at the University of Iowa? Engaging in research at the University of Iowa has allowed me to truly develop a love for learning. This project has challenged my brain to take curiosity to a whole new level and understand that knowledge is power in any form. The skills and relationships I have developed through conducting research are invaluable to my personal development. The University of Iowa has provided me with an environment to explore my interests and apply that knowledge to help others.
• What are your career goals and/or plans after graduation? After graduation I will be working as a Business Analyst at Avionos in Chicago.
• Does your research have connections to or implications for COVID-19? Please explain. My research topic specifically does not have any connections to COVID-19; however, my decision to engage in research initially does. In Spring of 2021, I had planned to spend the semester in Italy studying Management through the CIMBA program. Due to the implications of COVID-19, I was unable to travel internationally. Although I was devastated to not be able to study abroad, it allowed me to uncover a blessing in disguise. I decided to enroll in the Honors in the Major Program and write a management thesis. At the start of the program I was completely overwhelmed and was unsure if I had what it took to be a successful researcher. I persevered and spent countless hours investigating different topics in the management field. To my surprise, I quickly discovered a sense of satisfaction and pleasure that derived from conducting research. I was amazed to find so much meaning in my work and it motivates me to want to grow and better myself. They say that when one door closes, another opens, and in my case, engaging in research is one of the decisions I’ve ever made.

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