Biography
Amber L. Stephenson, Ph.D., MPH, is an Assistant Professor at Clarkson University in the Health Care Management MBA program. Stephenson received her doctorate in Administration and Leadership Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She also received a master’s degree in public health from West Chester University. Her research explores organizational identification, or the propensity of an individual to define the self in terms of an entity, specifically as it relates to practitioner satisfaction, turnover intention, performance outcomes, and retention. Her papers have been featured in journals such as Health Care Management Review, Journal of Health Organization and Management, Health Promotion Practice, Services Marketing Quarterly, International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, International Journal of Education Management, Higher Education, and Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. Prior to joining Clarkson University, Dr. Stephenson was the Director and Senior Research Associate at Temple University’s Nonprofit Evaluation Services and Training (NEST) program where she managed research, evaluation, and capacity building exercises for partner organizations like the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, United Way, National Park Service, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Aging, and the US-Japan Foundation. Before her experiences at Temple University, Dr. Stephenson was the primary analyst for several state-wide initiatives in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program.
Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University
Courses Taught
Research Interests
My area of research is organizational identification, or the propensity of individuals to define the self in relation to an entity. Over the past several years, I have examined identification as it relates to a variety of behavioral and attitudinal outcomes. For example, I explored how the definition of self-concept can impact supportive behaviors like donations, promotion, and competitive attitude towards out-groups; how it can act as as a mechanism of optimizing engagement or creating brand advocates; and used social identity theory to further investigate potential problems in eliciting positive organizational behaviors after rebranding. Most recently, I explored the relationship of identification and perceived organizational support on clinician satisfaction and intent to leave the position within a prison provider sample. Currently, I am also a collaborating partner on a multi-sector project exploring how women leaders - physicians and administrators - have experienced unconscious gender bias.
Awards
AcademyHealth Presidential Scholarship (2016), Nominated Attendee at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Leadership Conference for Women (2011), 23rd Annual Doctoral Fellowship Award (2010)
Publications
Lock, M., Stephenson, A. L., Branford, J., Roche, J., Edwards, M. K., & Ryan, K. (2017). Voice of the clinician: The case of an Australian health system. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 31(6), 665-678.
Stephenson, A. L., & Bell, N. M. (2017). Social identity and the prison health worker: Implications for practitioner satisfaction and turnover intentions. Health Care Management Review. Forthcoming.
Stephenson, A. L. (2016). Journey toward evidence-based: Seeking admission to formal program registries. Health Promotion Practice, 18(5), 681-689. DOI: 10.1177/1524839916670575.
Stephenson, A. L., & Yerger, D. B. (2016). How pretrial expectations and anticipated obstacles impact brand identification. Journal of Promotion Management. DOI: 10.1080/10496491.2016.1214207.
Stephenson, A. L., Heckert, D. A., & Yerger, D. B. (2016). College choice and the university brand: Exploring the consumer decision framework. Higher Education, 71(4), 489-503.
Stephenson, A. L. & Yerger, D. B. (2015). The role of satisfaction on alumni perceptions and supportive behaviors. Services Marketing Quarterly, 36(4), 299-316.
Stephenson, A. L. & Yerger, D. B. (2014). Optimizing alumni engagement: The effect of brand identification on alumni donation behaviors. International Journal of Educational Management, 28(7), 765-778.
Stephenson, A. L., & Bell, N.M. (2014). Motivation for alumni donations: a social identity perspective on the role of branding in higher education. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, 19(3), 176–186.
Stephenson, A. L. & Yerger, D. B. (2014). Does brand identification transform alumni into university brand advocates? International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 11, 243–262.
Bell, N.M., & Stephenson, A. L. (2014). Variation in motivations by running ability: Using the theory of reasoned action to predict attitudes about running 5K races. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 6(3), 231-247.
Works Submitted for Publication and Works in Progress:
Stephenson, A. L., & Yerger, D. B. (2016). Exploring nonlinearity in organizational identification: A threshold effects approach. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Stephenson, A. L., Heckert, D. A., & Yerger, D. B. (2016). Beyond workplace deviance: Low self-control predicts performance outcomes, retention, and institutional expectations. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Stephenson, A. L., & Bell, N. M. (2016). Combating practitioner burnout and increasing satisfaction: Evidence from state prison health workers. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Stephenson, A. L., & Yerger, D. B. (2016). Perseverance: A novel measurement approach. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Stephenson, A. L. (2013). The role of organizational identity in the YMCA rebrand of 2010. Sociological Perspectives, 29(1), 101-119.