Maura Mills
Description of Research
Most of my research revolves around positive psychology as it relates to industrial and organizational psychology; that is, positive organizational behavior. My recent research has focused on various constructs including ‘Flow,’ a facet of positive psychology during which people are functioning at their optimal level, and more recently ‘Engagement,’ a positive affective state very similar to flow but arguably more enduring. Therefore, much of my research reflects my interest of defining and creating work environments that optimize intrinsic motivation and engagement. My latest research endeavor involves engagement as it relates to work-family issues and associated constructs.
Representative Publications
Mills, M. J., & Fullagar, C. J. Motivation and Flow: Toward an Understanding of the Dynamics of the Relationship in Architectural Students. Accepted for publication in Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied.
Representative Presentations
Mills, M. J., & Fullagar, C. J. (2008). Motivation and Flow: Dynamics of the Relationship in Architectural Students.
- Paper to be presented at 116th Annual American Psychological Association (APA) Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, August 2008.
Smith, M. R., & Mills, M.J. (2008). Assessing the Moderating Effect of Vigor on Personality and Commitment.
- Paper to be presented at Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA), Chicago, Illinois, May 2008.
Mills, M. J. (2008). Person-Environment Fit: An Increasingly Important Consideration.
- Poster to be presented at 29th Annual Industrial-Organizational / Organizational Behavior (IOOB) Conference, Denver, Colorado, March 2008.
Mills, M. J. (2008). The Assessment Center: An Appropriate Personnel Selection Tool?
- Poster to be presented at 29th Annual Industrial-Organizational / Organizational Behavior (IOOB) Conference, Denver, Colorado, March 2008.
Mills, M. J. (2008). The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale: A Statistical Analysis of the Two Versions.
- Poster to be presented at 29th Annual Industrial-Organizational / Organizational Behavior (IOOB) Conference, Denver, Colorado, March 2008.
Mills, M. J. (2007). Associations between Achievement Measures and their Collective Prediction of Work Involvement.
- Paper presented at The Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK) Conference. Wichita, Kansas.
Mills, M. J., Smith, M. R., & Gopalan, N. (2007). An Exploration of the Relationship between Flow and Engagement.
- Poster presented at 27th Annual Great Plains Students’ Psychology Convention, Wichita, Kansas. First place poster award
Mills, M.J. & Fullagar, C.J. (2006). Flow and Self-Determination in Higher Education.
- Paper presented at 7th Annual Joint Convention of The Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK) and the Nebraska Psychological Society (NPS), Hays, Kansas.
Mills, M.J. (2006). Utilizing 360º Ratings in Educational Settings.
- Poster presented at 7th Annual Joint Convention of The Association for Psychological and Educational Research in Kansas (PERK) and the Nebraska Psychological Society (NPS), Hays, Kansas.
Mills, M.J. (2005). Gendered Perceptions of Aggression among High School Students.
- Poster presented at 3rd Annual Undergraduate Research Conference at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, Massachusetts.
Girgenti, A. & Mills, M.J. (2005). Are Sleep Patterns, Depression, and Academic Performance Related?
- Poster presented at 58th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Teaching Experience
"Behavior Analysis" - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)
"Applied Developmental Psychology." - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)
"MIOP" program - (continuing education distance masters in industrial and organizational psychology) - Kansas State University (KSU)
Education
Ph.D. – Kansas State University (KSU), in progress
M.S. – Kansas State University (KSU), May 2007
B.A. - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), May 2005
- Double major: Psychology & English/Communications (concentration: corporate communications)
- Double minor: Business Administration & Women’s Studies
Attachment of CV in .doc or .pdf format
Any personal information (e.g., extracurricular activities)
When I’m not doing schoolwork, research, or work, I enjoy a variety of extracurricular activities including horseback riding, hiking the Konza Prairie, journaling, and scrapbooking. I also enjoy traveling both domestically and internationally.
Email address
