Faculty in Focus: Growing by leaps and bounds
In the world of competitive dance, where every step is scrutinized and every move polished to perfection, Tessa Charlesworth found a training ground for resilience and growth. “You stand next to 20 dancers on stage and get told all the things you did wrong,” she explains. Charlesworth, who danced competitively since elementary school, turned those moments of vulnerability into stepping stones toward becoming better.
“Even though receiving some of the feedback hurt at times, after I implemented it, I did improve. It gave me such an admiration for feedback.” Charlesworth credits the rigorous demands of being a dancer for helping prepare her for life beyond the dance stage navigating challenges with grace and humility.
Entering her second year as an assistant professor teaching her Leadership in Organizations course, Charlesworth is one of the newer faculty members on campus at Kellogg and sees the school as more than just a place of academic pursuit. For her, it has become a community of people who foster growth and innovation.
“Kellogg manages to strike a balance between inspiring you and also pushing you to explore the world and do as much as you can,” says Charlesworth. “You’re motivated to jump high and jump far because of the net of resources that are around you.” She maintains that the amount of support and inspiration she’s received since starting have been paramount to helping her grow and develop as an academic.
Charlesworth’s office space is nestled within the Global Hub where its bustling environment is fertile ground for creativity, connection and conversation. For Charlesworth, Kellogg cultivates a sense of joy and camaraderie within its community. “There’s this kind of hum that happens around the Global Hub,” she says. “People will pop into my office and ask how teaching and research are going — it makes it feel like everyone is there for you.”
Charlesworth notes how “water cooler” conversations have created some meaningful moments and connections. From impromptu chats with economists to deep dives into how theories apply across various fields like physics and psychology, the school’s environment nurtures collaboration and exploration.
It was during one of those random run ins that sparked an idea between her and William Brady, an assistant professor studying and teaching on the dynamics of emotion at the social network level and their consequences in group behavior. Joining them is professor Nour Kteily, who also serves as a co-director of the Center for Enlightened Disagreement, the school’s newest research center.
The three will be continuing the joint lab they’ve created and used the last two quarters to establish a solid foundation and put an infrastructure in place that supports their research projects while providing current undergraduate and PhD students with hands-on experience through those projects.
The lab focuses on computational social psychology where Charlesworth, alongside her colleagues and students, dives deep into studying social psychological issues via big data. “I’m excited to see the lab continue to grow and evolve,” she says. “We brought our interdisciplinary backgrounds together, and everyone united around a shared interest and a shared goal.”
Charlesworth has also appreciated how her colleagues create a balance between tackling serious societal issues while enjoying the journey. As someone who is driven by a passion for activism and societal change, Charlesworth finds hope in her research findings. “I often see what's missing in our world and at times it can feel as if change isn’t happening,” she explains. “However, it's been helpful to see my data show otherwise. In some places, we’ve seen a lot of progress. For example, people have changed their minds about same-sex marriage and gay rights, and our anti-gay attitudes in the United States have dropped by 68% in just 14 years.”
Through her work, Charlesworth emphasizes the importance of data-driven insights in challenging stereotypes and paving the way for more inclusive practices. Her work looks into understanding biases and how they manifest in new contexts, and she aims to shed light on how biases can be challenged and dismantled.
One topic near and dear to her heart is inclusive representation, particularly in academics and science. “In my own research, I’ve seen the power of representation, and part of the reasons why we’re seeing change and attitudes and stereotypes is because we’re changing representation of who’s on TV, who is obtaining leadership positions, who our teachers and professors are and so forth.” says Charlesworth. “Having structures in place like the Drake Scholars, and the Global Women’s Summit to create those systematic, networking opportunities for women is just crucial.” Charlesworth, who will be speaking at the Summit later this year in October, is excited and energized to be a part of the school’s broader effort in championing women leaders.
Charlesworth’s journey at Kellogg reflects the spirit of possibility, innovation and collaboration that defines the school. As she continues pursuing her passions and making strides in her research, she expresses gratitude for the supportive environment that is enabling her to thrive. With her feet more firmly planted after a year already under her belt, Charlesworth is looking forward to the possibilities ahead in her days at Kellogg.
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