Jessica Mesmer Magnus

Dr. Jessica M. Magnus is a Professor & Chair of the Department of Management in the Cameron School of Business at UNC Wilmington. She joined UNCW in 2005, and has over two decades of experience spanning academic research, teaching, and consulting. She is an engaging instructor who bridges research and real-world application. She has been awarded the UNCW Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award and the Distinguished Teaching Professorship. Her approach prepares students to navigate complex organizational environments and to lead effectively in global contexts. Dr. Magnus’s research has been supported by major external grants from NSF, NASA, and the U.S. Army Research Institute. She has been awarded both the Cameron School of Business’ Outstanding Research and Outstanding Service Awards. Dr. Magnus is an active contributor to executive and professional education through UNCW’s Swain Center, where she delivers workshops on leadership, teamwork, and organizational effectiveness. Prior to entering academia, she worked as a human resource manager and consultant for a national environmental engineering firm, and she continues to engage in applied consulting and executive development. Through her work, Dr. Magnus is committed to advancing both scientific understanding and practical application of how individuals and teams can thrive in modern organizations.

Education

Ph.D. Psychology (Industrial/Organizational), Florida International University, 2005
Post-Graduate Certificate Strategic Human Resource Management, Old Dominion University, 2001
M.S. Applied Psychology, Christopher Newport University, 2000
B.S. Psychology with a minor Mathematics, University of Florida, 1999
SPHR Senior Professional in Human Resource Management (Active since 2001), Human Resource Certification Institute
SHRM – SCP SHRM Senior Certified Professional (Active since 2015), Society for Human Resource Management
MBSR Qualified Teacher, Mindful Academy Solterreno
MBCT, MBCT-L, Deeper Mindfulness, Oxford Mindfulness Institute
Organizational Mindfulness Teacher/Facilitator, Institute for Organizational Science & Mindfulness
Certificate, People Analytics, Society for Human Resource Management
200-Hour Yoga Teacher & Mindfulness Facilitator (2024), Breathe for Change, B4C

Specialization in Teaching

Human Resource Management, Staffing & Selection, Total Rewards, International HR, HR Analytics
Organizational Behavior, Managerial Skills, Management

Research Interests

Team cognition & information sharing
Organizational mindfulness
Safety voice
Loneliness
Supervisor use of humor
Work/family conflict

Community Engagement

Classical Conversations, Classical Home Education, Tutor/Director/Support Representative (2011-2024)

Honors & Awards

Cameron School of Business Distinguished Research Award (2019)
Recipient, UNCW Distinguished Teaching Professorship (2016)
Recipient, UNCW Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award (2012)
Scott Fraser Award (2005) – Academic Excellence in I/O Psychology