Education

PhD, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, University of North Texas

MS, Psychology, University of Madras, India

BA, Psychology & Sociology, Isabella Thoburn College, India

Biography

Ambika Prasad, PhD, currently holds the position of Associate Director and Professor of Practice within the Business and Leadership Studies program at Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement (SoPA). She is also Adjunct Professor of Management at Tulane’s A. B. Freeman School of Business. Faculty. Her primary focus in teaching revolves around Leadership, Organizational Behavior, and Human Resource Management. Professor Prasad earned her doctoral degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of North Texas, followed by a post-doctoral work in Organizational Behavior at the Geis College of Business, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before her academic career, she spent seven years in a senior role with the Indian Revenue Service and also worked on HR consulting projects in the United States.

Additionally, Professor Prasad dedicated her time as a Posse mentor for New Orleans Tulane Posse 6. In this role, she provided guidance and mentorship to a group of students throughout their academic journey at Tulane University. The Posse program is widely recognized for its comprehensive support of students from diverse backgrounds and talents at partner universities and colleges. As Management faculty at the Freeman School of Business, Professor Prasad introduced service-learning components into the HR curriculum, enabling her students to collaborate with various New Orleans community organizations on business and HR-related projects. She also serves as the Faculty Principal for Newcomb-Tulane College's Scholars' Program, focusing on discussions related to workplace diversity among the cohort.

Professor Prasad's research interests center around workplace diversity and the impact of information and communication technologies on organizational dynamics. She specifically investigates topics such as workplace stereotyping, stereotype threat, and virtual teams. In addition to her academic pursuits, she actively participates in workshops and delivers talks on matters pertaining to organizational effectiveness on a pro bono basis. Professor Prasad is a member of American Red Cross’s (Capital West Chapter, Louisiana) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. Prasad is an enthusiast for creativity in various aspects of life, including a love for fresh flowers and interior decoration. She is an avid reader of history, as well as poetry, with a particular interest in Urdu and Hindi poetry. As a resident of New Orleans, she cherishes the city's vibrant music and culture scene. Professor Prasad proudly volunteers as a docent at the New Orleans Museum of Art, where she offers weekend tours to museum visitors, further enriching her connection to the city's cultural heritage.