My name is Melanie (Mel) Prengler (Mel-uh-nee Preen-glur) and I’m an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
How do people change the systems that weren’t built with them in mind—and how do they navigate the complexity of doing so? My research investigates how individuals challenge social and organizational structures that misrepresent or constrain them, and how they navigate new ways of working that blur traditional rules and roles. I focus on the behaviors they use to make change possible and the inner experiences that shape their path.
Like many of the people I study, I have a sense of adventure and a passion for discovery. When not pursuing these via my research, I can be found adventuring and discovering in the outdoors with my husband—usually hiking, spending time in local public gardens, or eating a delicious new dish al fresco.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior, 2022, Texas A&M University
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2017, Sam Houston State University
B.A in Psychology, 2013, Texas A&M University