Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of UT Dallas faculty and students. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communication manager.

Jindal School Professor Named Fellow of Psychology Society

Dr. Riki Takeuchi

Dr. Riki Takeuchi, professor of organizations, strategy and international management in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, was named a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) at the society’s meeting in April.

SIOP Fellows are psychologists recognized for having made “an unusual and outstanding contribution to the field.” Takeuchi’s election is his second honor from SIOP, a professional organization for those who practice and teach industrial and organizational psychology. In 2010, the society gave him its Distinguished Early Career Contributions Award.

Takeuchi, an organizational psychologist who specializes in international management issues, was appointed last fall as the first Jindal School of Management Advisory Council Distinguished Professor.

Takeuchi is known for his research in cross-cultural adjustment processes, social exchange relationships and strategic human resource management, with a particular focus on employer-employee relationships. Before joining the Jindal School, he taught at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he was a five-time winner of the Best Ten Lecturers Award.

His work includes 29 refereed journal articles, six book chapters and many conference presentations. He has served on the editorial boards of six major management journals and recently completed a term as associate editor for the Academy of Management Journal.

Group for Community College Transfer Students Earns Honor

The Iota of Texas Alumni Association of Phi Theta Kappa at UT Dallas has been recognized as the honor society’s top university-based alumni association.

Student members join at community college level and are considered “alumni” when they enter a four-year university.

Bobbie Pinedo, a criminology senior in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and chapter president, said the UT Dallas members were recognized for helping incoming transfer student members adapt to a more rigorous academic setting by offering events such as TransferU, a two-hour session on what the University offers.

“We give them insider information on eateries and study areas on campus, as well as services like tutoring at UT Dallas. Students tell us this makes all the difference in the world to them,” Pinedo said. “This interactive experience gives them the opportunity to ask questions of their peers, and it often results in members making new friends.”

Pinedo transferred to UT Dallas from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.

“Coming in during your junior year can be a little intimidating for our members. This helps to knock down the walls and helps to make students feel a part of the University,” Pinedo said.

Advisor Lori Skillestad MA’07, graduate accounting program coordinator in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, praised the chapter’s members for connecting others to UT Dallas. The chapter has more than 300 members.

“These students are amazing. They truly are great ambassadors of UT Dallas,” Skillestad said.