“It was a full-circle moment at my Convocation ceremony this year because I knew my dad had set foot in the very same classrooms and halls as I did,” shares Olivia Wiles (M.A. '23), daughter of Jonathan Wiles (M.A. '90), who walked across the same stage over 33 years ago.
The father-daughter duo both graduated from TC’s Social-Organizational Psychology (SOP) program and often reflect on their transformative, shared experiences at Teachers College.
We chatted with Olivia and Jonathan to learn about their unique family story.
Q: What inspired you both to pursue TC’s Social-Organizational Psychology program?
JW: “At the time, I was working on the human resources and development team for a company that managed and operated hair salons worldwide. I fell in love with the work that goes into building a company culture and structure, but I realized there was room for improvement. Through my research, I stumbled upon Teachers College and was immediately drawn to the Social-Organizational Psychology program.”
OW: “I grew up in a household that strongly valued continued learning and education. My grandfather was a professor of economics, and I knew I wanted to continue that family legacy.”
“After working with executives and leadership daily at the Columbia Business School, I was eager to be a part of something bigger. Professionally, the program spoke to me because it addressed the world's problems, not just on an organizational level but on a social level. On a personal note, my deep familial connection to the program made it that much more special.”
Q: How did your experiences in the program shape your professional pathways?
JW: “Eventually, my company began to rely on what I was learning at Teachers College to advance its HR strategy. It was putting theory into practice. I find the curriculum still influences my career today in organizational consulting. I’m always asking myself, ‘Where am I needed?’ or ‘How can I add value?’”
OW: “This degree has emphasized that having a diverse, broad set of skills is a strength I can take anywhere. The idea of teaching, not in a traditional way of lecturing, but by bringing fresh perspectives and ideas, is what makes Teachers College so unique. If you’re going to TC, you’re going to change the world.”
Q: How do you see the field of social-organizational psychology evolving? Have you noticed changes over your shared time in the program?
JW: “Organizational psychologists are needed everywhere. You can walk into any place—a hospital, a corporation, but no matter where you end up, that organization needs the tools and guidance to function optimally. That’s where we come into play. Many organizations want to start that process but don’t know where to begin.”
OW: “While my dad and I have spent hours chatting about how the program has developed, my perspective differs slightly from my dad’s in that I experienced the wave of remote work in response to the pandemic.”
“We’re seeing a shift in how we communicate and collaborate in the workplace from Zoom to hybrid spaces. I was lucky enough to take several classes about developing online learning platforms and internal training. As organizational leaders, our work needs to shift with those changes. It’s about creating community and ways of learning that work for everyone.”
(Image: Olivia and Jonathan Wiles)
Q: What are some of your most memorable TC experiences? Courses? Faculty?
JW: “Warner Burke was among the first professors to engage me, particularly in his Functions of Organizations course. It gave me an eye-opening view that to fulfill the potential role of a consultant, you must have a working knowledge of how your workplace functions.”
OW: “Similar to my dad, I enjoyed the Functions of Organizations course with Dr. Galit Ben-Joseph. She made intimidating concepts very approachable and guided our class to feel comfortable "sitting at the table" with executives. I’ll always remember her teaching style as empowering, inclusive, and FUN (which is not something I imagined saying about finance and accounting!).”
“I was lucky enough to have Dr. Gina Buontempo as my instructor for my very first and very last class at Teachers College, which was a powerful measure of just how far I had come in the program.”
Q: A piece of advice for future TC students?
JW: “Remember where you’re going. You’re signing up to teach, to bring expertise. You’re here to learn, but you’re also here to advance. I would encourage all TC students to really zone in on what inspires them. If you stay inspired, you'll always be learning and challenging yourself.”
OW: “Reflecting back on words of wisdom from my grandfather, James Wiles, 'Do the work.' When you actually put that sentiment into practice and see it through, the results will be tremendous and impactful to say the least.”