portrait of Gwendolyn Combs

Gwendolyn Marizett Combs serves the University in both faculty and administrative roles. Academically, she is an Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business. Administratively, she is the Director for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion in the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor; and Coordinates the work of the three UNL Chancellor’s Diversity Commissions (Commissions on the Status of People of Color, the Status of Women, and on the Status of Gender and Sexual Identities).

Her scholarship has focused on the dynamics of human resource management, diversity, and inclusion practices on organizational outcomes and employee behaviors, and well being.

Combs teaches a variety of courses in human resources management and advises students interested in careers in that professional field. Her scholarly publications and conference presentations are framed more specifically within the areas of recruitment and selection, individual identity and inter-group behaviors, workplace equality, and organizational environments for diversity and inclusion. Additionally, she assists organizations in developing and integrating human resource programs/policy, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and diversity training.

Combs received her BA from Wellesley College, an MBA from Washington University(MO), and her doctoral degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Combs holds leadership roles in professional and service organizations including the Executive Board of the Diversity and Inclusion Theme Committee of the Academy of Management, Chair of the UNL African and African American Caucus, and member of the Institutional Research Committee of the National Board of Directors for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.