Katherine L. Milkman
James G. Dinan Professor, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Katherine L. Milkman receives the Mentorship Award for her exceptional dedication to developing the next generation of behavioral scientists through intellectual, social, and personal support. Her nominators, past and current mentees alike, are unequivocal: "I attribute all of my success in academia to Katy," and she makes academia "a smarter and kinder place."
Professor Milkman's intellectual mentorship fundamentally transforms how her students approach research. She meets mentees where they are, even those transitioning from entirely different disciplines, and builds their knowledge from the ground up. She instills a research philosophy focused on impactful questions with meaningful policy implications, ensuring every single one of her PhD students conducts large-scale, preregistered field experiments in real-world organizational settings. Her hands-on guidance is extraordinary: she provides detailed, line-by-line feedback on countless drafts (sometimes providing hundreds of comments on a single manuscript) and teaches often-neglected tacit skills, from how to pitch an idea to an organization to how to provide constructive peer reviews. Her training is so holistic and thorough that it is no surprise her mentees frequently go on to serve as editors and editorial board members at top journals like AMJ, Organization Science, and OBHDP.
Socially, she is exceptionally generous with her professional capital. She connects mentees with leading scholars and industry partners, advocates for them tirelessly on the job market (personally reaching out to dozens of colleagues), and ensures their contributions receive ample credit. Every single PhD student she has mentored has secured a top tenure-track position in OB or related departments.
Personally, despite a demanding schedule that includes directing the Behavior Change for Good Initiative, hosting a podcast, and teaching, she makes each mentee feel they have her full attention. She is renowned for her extraordinary responsiveness and genuine care, whether helping a student navigate imposter syndrome, offering strategic advice during personal crises, or stepping in to handle project logistics while a student is on paternity leave. She lives by her own principle: "Being an advisor is a lifetime job," remaining just as engaged and supportive long after her students graduate.