27 March 2024 • Alums Confessions of an Applied Psychologist: Surviving vs. Thriving

Industrial-Organizational Psychologist Dr. Stephen Cohen ’67 returns to campus to discuss careers in psychology.

Dr. Stephen Cohen ’67 will speak to students interested in careers in psychology on Thursday, April 18. His talk “Confessions of an Applied Psychologist: Surviving vs. Thriving” is drawn from his decades of experience in industrial-organizational psychology research and consulting. The event will be held in the Stine Room of the Adams Intercultural Center from noon – 1 p.m.

An expert and consultant in the talent development field, Cohen has led eight different firms. He is the Founder and Principal of the Strategic Leadership Collaborative, a private consulting practice that focuses on business strategy and leadership development. Over the course of his career, Cohen has advanced the human resources strategies of Fortune 500 corporations, worked with more than 150 major corporations across many industries, and served on multiple advisory boards in the training and education industry.

Cohen has also authored and delivered scores of refereed articles, chapters and presentations on talent development topics. In his latest book 12 Winning Strategies for Building a Talent Development Firm: An Action Planning Guide, he offers approaches to grow a talent development business - such as fully understanding the industry, figuring out what you want and need, and defining the business’ purpose, among others. Cohen also explains common mistakes he and others have made in the industry and how to learn from them.

As a student at HWS, Cohen participated in student government, was the president of the Intra-fraternity Council, treasurer of Kappa Sigma, and a member of the Chimera and Druid honor societies. He was also a member of the Hobart basketball team. After graduating with his B.S. in psychology, he completed a M.S. and Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology at the University of Tennessee. As an alumnus, Cohen served as president of the Alumni Council and on the Board of Trustees for 13 years. In 2022, he established a new endowed fund to support the Department of Psychological Science, HWS Athletics, the Centennial Center and the Annual Fund. 

The talk is hosted by the HWS Department of Psychological Science.

Top: Dr. Stephen Cohen ’67 speaks to students interested in careers in psychology during a previous visit to campus.