Meet Our Executive Board
Michaela Oesterle
President
(Mi-KAY-la OH-STIR-Lee)
She/Her/Hers
Michaela Oesterle is a Human Capital Consultant for the US government at Deloitte Consulting. In her current project, she is supporting a financial technology system implementation with organizational design and transformation. She also has expertise in performance management including job analysis, competency modeling, performance criteria, and performance management program design. She holds her Master of Arts in I-O Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, both from Wayne State University.
Michaela resides in metro-Detroit with her husband, Mike, and their three cats. She likes to rock climb, do yoga, watch Netflix, and complete renovation projects around the house. She loves puns and sarcasm too so if you’ve heard a good joke lately, send it to the MAIOP email!
Dr. Kim Derryberry
Past-President
She/Her/Hers
Kim holds a doctorate in I-O Psychology from Capella University, a master’s degree in Organizational Management, a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, and an associate degree in Business Management. She is also certified in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace through the University of South Florida, Muma College of Business.
She is a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and currently serves on the Military and Veterans Inclusion subcommittee. She is also a member of the SHRM, the Michigan Chapter of Women in Defense, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Psi Chi International Honor Society.
Kim works for Glass River Media as the Project Manager for a Department of Defense talent management platform for Reservists and National Guardsmen. She was a public affairs officer for the National Guard and for the Department for 12 years. She is a U.S. Army Veteran and earned a Bronze Star in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2012.
Kim is also an independent workplace consultant and speaker on motivation/job performance and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
She has six grown children between her and her husband Don, and seven grandchildren.
Paola Delaj
2022-2023 President-Elect
(POW-luh DE-ly)
She/Her/Hers
Paola Delaj is an Organizational Change Consultant at Rocket Central. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Advertising at Michigan State University and her Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy. In addition, she is also a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner. Paola’s change management portfolio includes technology implementations/decommissions, process improvements, organizational engagement, performance management, company rebranding, company onboarding/offboarding, restructures, and more.
Paola also has two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother that keep her grounded with quality banter. Her hobbies include finding new music, going to art museums, eating sushi, writing, and watching early 2000s shows and cliché romantic comedies. A standing bucket list item for her is traveling, and she hopes to see as many places as she can in her lifetime.
If you’re interested in connecting with Paola, reach out on LinkedIn!
Samantha McIntosh
Secretary
Samantha (Sam) McIntosh is a 2014 graduate of the Industrial/Organizational Psychology, M.A. program at Wayne State University. She received her Psychology, B.S. from Michigan Technological University in 2011 where she was named the 2011 Departmental Scholar. While there she was a research assistant in the DeSciDE Lab supporting decision making research. She is also a member of the Delta Zeta sorority and an active alumna.
Sam has spent most of her career at Robert Bosch where she will celebrate 10 years tenure in 2023. She has held various HR specialist roles focusing on associate relations and total rewards. Currently she is an analyst with the North America business development team where she leads research and strategy development projects.
Samantha’s interests include digital transformation, AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), organizational design and strategy, and data analytics. She is also passionate about the topic of employee wellbeing and culture. She was a student member of MIOP and recently rejoined to meet and work with others in the field. Other interests include motorcycles, gardening, and raising her two boys (4 and 11).
Dr. Jennifer Hitchcock
Treasurer
Dr. Hitchcock joined MAIOP in 2021 and is our treasurer. Dr. Hitchcock holds a Doctorate of Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University. Her dissertation, An Exploration of Organizational Collective Motivation and the Influence of the SOAR Framework to Build Organizational Collective Motivation as applied to organizational transformation, highlights her research interests of organizational behavior, organization development, and organizational transformation. She also holds a Master of Science in Global Leadership and Management, a Master of Science Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering.
She is a licensed professional engineer, a certified executive coach, Mentorship Director for the Michigan Chapter of Women in Defense, a board advisor for the Michigan Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association, board member of Wayne State University College of Engineering Advisory Board member for Global Executive Track PhD program.
Dr. Hitchcock is currently a Professor of Program Management at Defense Acquisition University’s (DAU). In this role she provides classroom instruction on Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition processes and supports DoD agencies in the development and implementation of key acquisition and leadership activities. Prior to joining DAU she served as a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) with the U.S. Army for more than 30 years. In this role she led many organizations and their efforts to meet U.S. Army needs by providing organizational and leadership and implementing organizational change and transformation.
In her free time, Dr. Hitchcock likes to spend time with her husband, two grown sons and her 2 old slow basset hounds relaxing and reading the latest research in her areas of interest. If you would like to engage with Jennifer contact her at garyjen1@comcast.net
Brittney Dawson
University Relations Director
She/Her/Hers
Brittney Dawson is a Learning and Development Partner at Rocket Central (Rocket Companies). She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Leadership of Organizations at Michigan State University. In addition, Brittney received her Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Wayne State University. With this educational background, she is considered a Scientist Practitioner. Brittney’s Learning and Development portfolio includes an Adult Learning Certification from ATD, where she has mastered how to design, implement, and drive learning and development initiatives within Rocket Companies.
Brittney’s work at Rocket Companies consists of conducting learning and development needs assessments, facilitation of focus groups and meetings with high level leaders. Additional work she does includes the design, research, and development of organization vision for learning and development initiatives/programs. In her day-to-day work, she leverages her ability to effectively interface with and influence peers, team members and leaders at all levels of the organization.
Brittney also has a total of 6 sisters, with her being number 6 out of 7 girls. She also has a handful of nieces and two nephews who she enjoys spending time with. Her hobbies outside of work include working out, being fit, and learning new nutritious meals to cook. Brittney also enjoys catching a new movie as soon as its out. A standing bucket list for her to is travel to at least one country per year for the next ten years.
If you’re interested in Learning and Development (Leadership Development) or would just like to connect, reach out to Brittney on LinkedIn!
Amanda DeLongchamp
Member-At-Large
Amanda is a Senior Talent & Organizational Development Consultant with Plante Moran. She specializes in talent assessments, succession planning, survey design, and talent analytics. Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Central Michigan University and her Master of Arts in I-O Psychology from the University of Minnesota - Duluth. Amanda is a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and Psi Chi International Honors Society. Her research has been in job crafting, work-life balance, assessment faking behaviors, and work-family conflict.
In her free time, Amanda likes to bake, go to the gym, go to Broadway shows, play board games, and go on nature walks with her fiancé, Dan. Amanda is eager to help students with questions about I-O psychology. Connect and reach out via LinkedIn!
