Ruffin, Makai

Assistant Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology

Principal Investigator of Motivation in Context (MIC) Laboratory (website coming soon)

Email:

makai.ruffin@sjsu.edu

Telephone:

408-924-5271

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Rice University
  • Master of Arts (MA), Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Rice University
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology, Bowling Green State University

Bio

Dr. Makai A. Ruffin (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology program at San José State University. Dr. Ruffin leads the Motivation in Context (MIC) laboratory, which broadly investigates the nuances of work motivation to address pressing challenges for the future of work. Specifically, Dr. Ruffin focuses on how individuals' personal characteristics and their environment shape motivation across several educational and applied contexts (e.g., job search, work-relevant learning and development, technology change). The MIC laboratory's current lines of inquiry examine the flip side of motivation: when and how discouragement and low expectations from others can increase effort and persistence, fostering success. 


Dr. Ruffin teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses in topics such as psychological tests and measures, training and development, and I-O psychology. In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Ruffin has applied experience spanning nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and for-profit enterprises, where she addressed issues related to performance appraisal and management, psychological tests and measures, and needs assessment. Dr. Ruffin earned her B.A. in Psychology from Bowling Green State University, as well as her M.A. and Ph.D. in I-O Psychology from Rice University.