2017 Organizational Studies Newsletter OS Newsletter_draftv10_joomag | Page 5

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Ashley Harrell Steven Samford
Ashley Harrell is a sociologist whose work is
centered largely on structural and social-psychological
solutions to problems of cooperation, collective action,
and social order. One key area of her research looks
at the dynamics of leadership, power, and influence
in groups, with a focus on the social-psychological
forces that both 1) promote “good leadership” and 2)
allow groups and organizations to successfully meet
their goals. Ashley also studied the mechanisms by
which interpersonal moral judgments, religion, and
social networks produce cooperation, generosity, and
solidarity in groups. Steven Samford studies organizations and the polit-
ical economy of development, primarily concentrat-
ing on the developing world. He focuses on how the
interactions between state bureaucracies (such as
innovation agencies or regulators) and businesses
and business organizations aff ect technology dif-
fusion and adoption. His papers have appeared in
the American Journal of Sociology, Politics & Society,
Studies in Comparative International Development,
and Business & Politics, among others. Prior to coming
to the University of Michigan, he held research fellow-
ships at the University of Toronto and University of
Notre Dame. He has degrees from Reed College (BA)
and the University of New Mexico (PhD).
Prior to joining Michigan, she earned a B.A. in
Psychology and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology at
the University of South Carolina, where she worked
and conducted experiments in the Laboratory for
Sociological Research. Ashley’s research has recently
been published in Social Forces, Social Science
Research, Scientific Reports, and other journals.
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