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Sonia K. Kang

Sonia K. Kang

Sonia K. Kang

Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour and HR Management, Department of Management,University of Toronto Mississauga
Chief Scientist, BEAR Centre
Faculty Research Fellow, Rotman Institute for Gender and the Economy

Degrees:

PhD, University of Toronto
MA, University of Toronto
BSc (Hons.), University of Alberta

Personal Website:

Bio

Dr. Sonia Kang is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management in the Department of Management, and Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Toronto Mississauga, and holds a cross-appointment to the Organizational Behaviour and HR Management area at Rotman. She is a Faculty Research Fellow at the Rotman School of Management’s Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) and Chief Scientist, Organizations in Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR). Sonia is also Special Advisor on Anti-Racism & Equity at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Sonia’s research has been published in journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science, Administrative Science Quarterly, and the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and has been featured in media outlets such as The Globe and Mail and The Atlantic. Sonia also hosts the popular podcast For the Love of Work.

Other Info

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Academic Positions

  • 2019-

    Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of Toronto

  • 2018-

    Associate Professor, University of Toronto

  • July-December 2016

    Acting PhD Coordinator, OBHRM, Graduate Department of Management, University of Toronto

  • 2016-

    Faculty Research Fellow, Rotman Institute for Gender & the Economy

  • 2016-

    Fellow, Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR)

  • 2011-present

    Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

  • 2010-2011

    Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University

Selected Publications - Papers

Selected Publications - Books and Chapters

Selected Publications - In press

Research and Teaching Interests

Dr. Kang's research explores the challenges and opportunities of identity, diversity, and inclusion and harnesses behavioral insights and organizational design to disrupt systems, processes, and structures that impede diversity, inclusion, and justice for individuals, organizations, and society. Some recent themes investigated in her research include diversity and inclusion in STEM and medicine; using choice architecture to eliminate the gender gap in competition; disclosure of designated group status under the Canadian Employment Equity Act; the effects of high and low power on performance; the interpretation of equality rights under the Canadian Constitution; the effectiveness of pro-diversity statements; and the decision to reveal or conceal race and gender cues when navigating the labor market. Sonia’s research on “resume whitening” won two best paper awards and was recently ranked #3 on Financial Times’ global top 100 list of “business school research with social impact”.




Honors and Awards

  • 2021

    Changemakers Award, Globe and Mail Report on Business

  • 2019-2023

    Insight Grant, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

  • 2017

    IMI Research Award, Institute for Management and Innovation, UTM

  • 2017

    W. Richard Scott Article Award, (Best Paper Award from the Organizations, Occupations, and Work Section of the American Sociological Association) for “Whitened Resumes: Race and Self- Presentation in the Labor Market” (Administrative Science Quarterly); 2017.

  • 2017

    Saroj Parasuraman Award, (Outstanding Publication on Gender and Diversity in Organizations Award from the Gender and Diversity in Organizations Division of the Academy of Management for “Whitened Resumes: Race and Self-Presentation in the Labor Market” (Administrative Science Quarterly); 2017

  • 2015

    Connaught New Researcher Award, University of Toronto

  • 2013-2016

    Insight Development Grant, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

  • 2010-2012

    Postdoctoral Fellowship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

  • 2010

    Ken Dion Award for Most Outstanding Graduate Student in Social/Personality Psychology, University of Toronto

  • 2009-2010

    Sir James Lougheed Award of Distinction, Government of Alberta

  • 2006-2010

    Doctoral Award, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

  • 2005‐2006

    Master's Award, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada