College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

People

Nicole Dillard

  • Pronouns: she, her, hers

  • Associate Professor
    Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development

My research examines how identity, power, care, and organizational systems shape experiences of work, with particular attention to Black maternal epistemologies, mothering, and the work-life experiences of women of color.

    DEGREES

    Ed.D., The George Washington University; human and organizational learning
    M.A., Ashford University; organizational management/non-profit management
    M.A., UNESCO Centre for Peace Studies, Universidad Jaume I; peace education
    B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; sociology and law & society

      AREAS OF INTEREST
      • Work and organizational experiences of individuals with marginalized identities
      • Black maternal epistemologies and knowledge production in workplace and organizational contexts
      • Intersectionality of race, gender, labor, and power in workplace dynamics
      • Ethics/politics of care in HRD
      • Critical HRD
        BIOGRAPHY

        Profile

        My research examines how identity, power, care, and organizational systems shape the experiences of individuals with marginalized identities at work, with particular attention to mothering and the work-life experiences of women of color. Centering Black maternal epistemologies, I explore how mothering functions as a site of knowledge production, resistance, care, and advocacy within workplace and organizational contexts. My broader scholarship examines intersectionality and workplace equity, reproductive justice and work, developmental relationships and workplace care, and the ways emerging technologies and organizational systems shape workers’ experiences. Across these areas, I am interested in expanding what counts as legitimate knowledge in Human Resource Development and developing theory and practice that more fully account for the knowledge and experiences of people historically marginalized within organizations. I have presented my research at conferences including the International Leadership Association (ILA), Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN), University Forum for Human Resource Development (UFHRD), Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD), Academy of Management (AOM), and the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP).

        Before entering academia, I spent nearly 20 years as a practitioner working across learning and development, organizational management, and nonprofit and private-sector organizations. My practitioner experience continues to inform my commitment to scholarship that is theoretically rigorous, critically engaged, and relevant to organizational practice.

        Courses Taught

        OLPD 5919 — Introduction to Applied Research for HRD Professionals
        OLPD 5819 — Evaluating and Using Research in Organizations and Education
        OLPD 8603 — HRD Capstone Research Experience
        OLPD 3310 — Advanced Perspectives on Identities, Intersectionality, and Equity in the Workplace
        OLPD 1303 — Leadership in the Organizational Context
        OLPD 3609 — Profession and Practice of Business and Marketing Education and Human Resource Development
        OLPD 4696 — Applied Experience in Business Marketing Education & Human Resource Development

        Awards and Honors

        • 2026 -  Academy of Human Resource Development, Elwood F. Holton, III Research Excellence Award
        • 2025 – College Education and Human Development, Women’s Philanthropic Leadership Circle Award (WPLC) Early Career Work & Family Fellowship, Work & Family Researchers Network (2022)
        • Best Paper Award, Academy of Management Annual Meeting (2021)
        • Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, College of Arts & Sciences, Northern Kentucky University (2021)
        • President’s Award (for extraordinary devotion and contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion work), Textbook & Academic Authors Association (2021)
        • Outstanding Faculty Award, Black Faculty & Staff Association, Northern Kentucky University (2021)
        • Social Justice Fellowship, Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (2019)

        Professional Affiliations

        • Work Family Researchers Network (WFRN)
        • Academy of Human Resource Management (AOM)
        • Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) 
          PUBLICATIONS

          Osam, E. K., & Dillard, N. (2026). Leveraging performance improvement practices to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education: The case of student success and mental wellness. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development. Advance online publication. DOI: 10.1177/19394225261476294.

          Alfateh, N., Cavallo, T., & Dillard, N. (2026). Unconferencing as a catalyst for graduate student growth in critical HRD. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 38(1), 70–86. DOI: 10.1177/19394225251387290.

          Cavallo, T., Dillard, N., & Tope-Davis, D. (2026). Maternal wellness at work: A call for workplace policies and practices that support matrescence. In J. Harrold (Ed.), Mother becoming: Reflections and scholarship on matrescence (pp. 220–235). Demeter Press. DOI: 10.2307/jj.38164289.22.

          Dillard, N., & Cavallo, T. (2025). Maternal practices and learning relationships: Fostering an ethics of care in adult learning and HRD. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development. Advance online publication. DOI: 10.1177/19394225251391423.

          Dillard, N., Cavallo, T., & Zhang, P. (2025). A return to humanism: A multi-level analysis exploring the positive effects of quiet quitting. Human Resource Development Review, 24(2), 127–156. DOI: 10.1177/15344843241305655.

          Sim, E., & Dillard, N. (2025). Intersectionality-in-action: A systematic literature review on intersectional praxis in HRD. Human Resource Development Review. Advance online publication. DOI: 10.1177/15344843251392111.

          Zhang, P., & Dillard, N. (2025). Advancing critical HRD scholarship on Asians and Asian Americans in the U.S. workplace: An integrative literature review. Human Resource Development International. Advance online publication. DOI: 10.1080/13678868.2025.2605008.

          Zhang, P., Dillard, N., & Cavallo, T. (2025). Navigating the limitations of algorithmic management: An integrative framework of sociotechnical systems theory (STS) and strategic HRD. Human Resource Development Review, 24(3), 279–303. DOI: 10.1177/15344843251320252.

          Dillard, N., Sisco, S., & Collins, J. C. (2024). Expanding experiential learning in contemporary adult education: Embracing technology, interdisciplinarity, and cultural responsiveness. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2024(184), 30–38. DOI: 10.1002/ace.20539.

          Dillard, N., & Cavallo, T. (2023). Beyond the womb: A mosaic of organizational advocacy for reproductive justice. Community, Work & Family, 26(5), 607–625. DOI: 10.1080/13668803.2023.2277119.

          Dillard, N., & Cavallo, T. (2023). The stories we tell: Narratives of mothering and work during the dual pandemics of 2020. Journal of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement, 14(1), 101–118.

          Dillard, N., & Walker, C. M. (2022). Black mothers at work: A contemplative and anti-oppressive approach to dismantling workplace oppression. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 19(2), 97–123. DOI: 10.51327/OYWW2974.

          Dillard, N., & Storberg-Walker, J. (2022). Co-conspirators: The journey of two educators to engage JEDI within critical leadership education. In J. Marques & S. Dhiman (Eds.), Leading with diversity, equity and inclusion: Approaches, practices and cases for integral leadership strategy (pp. 315–327). Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-95652-3_19.

          Dillard, N., & Osam, K. (2021). Deconstructing the meaning of engagement: An intersectional qualitative study. Human Resource Development International, 24(5), 511–532. DOI: 10.1080/13678868.2021.1959777.

          Osam, K., Dillard, N., & Palmer, D. (2021). Engagement under pressure: The impact of identity on engagement during times of crisis. Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development, 11(1), 1–23.

          Dillard, N. (2020). Designing research to dismantle oppression: Utilizing critical narrative analysis & critical participatory action research in research on mothering and work and beyond. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 21(7), 47–60.

          Dillard, N. (2018). Narratives of women at work: Exploring a more inclusive understanding of women of color and the implications for women and leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies, 12(1), 49–55. DOI: 10.1002/jls.21564.

            PRESENTATIONS

            Dillard, N., and Walker, C. (August 2021). Black Mothers at Work: A Contemplative & Anti-Oppressive Approach to Dismantling Workplace Oppression. In Sonia Taneja (Ed.), Proceedings of the Eighty-first Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management. Online ISSN: 2151-6561. * Awarded Best Conference Paper.

            Dillard, N. and Osam, E., (February 2021). Moving Forward: A Roundtable Discussion on Engagement and Identity Best Practices in the Workplace. Academy of Human Resource Development conference, virtual. (training)

            Dillard, N., Osam, E., Palmer, D. (November 2020). Deconstructing the Meaning of Engagement in Public Service: An intersectional Qualitative Study Using Race, Identity, and Ethnicity. Northeast Conference on Public Administration, virtual/Brooklyn, NY. (Panel).

            Dillard, N., High, M. (September 2019). Exploring Employee Engagement for Women of Color Leaders in Public Administration. Midwest Public Administration conference, Indianapolis, IN. (Presentation)

            Dillard, N., Osam, E., Robinson, R. (February 2019). Exploring Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion. Where does Race & Gender Fit In? Academy of Human Resource Development conference, Louisville, KY. (Panel)

            Osam, E., Dillard, N., (February 2019). Going Beyond the Numbers: A Study Examining the Value of Qualitative Research Methodology as a Mode of Inquiry in Engagement Research. Academy of Human Resource Development conference, Louisville, KY. (Presentation)

            Dillard, N. (February 2019). Mothers, Motherhood, and Mothering in Popular Culture. Southwest Popular/American Culture Association (SWPACA) annual conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Presentation)

            • Organizational Leadership, Policy, And Devlopment
              319 Burton Hall
              178 Pillsbury Dr SE
              Minneapolis, MN 55455-0226

            • 612-626-8971
            • ndillard@umn.edu

            • By appointment via Zoom. Please reach out to me via email to schedule an appointment.