monica

Monica Forret, PhD

DBA Director | Professor


Dr. Monica Forret is a Professor in the Department of Management and is the Director of the Doctor of Business Administration Program. Dr. Forret teaches courses on human resource management, organizational behavior, women in business, research methods, leadership, training & development, and organizational culture. She conducts research primarily in the areas of networking, mentoring, careers, job search processes, gender issues, and work attitudes.

She has published in several academic journals such as the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Journal of Managerial Psychology, Career Development International, Group & Organization Management, Organizational Dynamics, British Journal of Management, and Leadership & Organization Development Journal. Dr. Forret has presented numerous research papers, symposia, and professional development workshops at international meetings of the Academy of Management.

Dr. Forret was the recipient of the inaugural Doctoral Alumni Research Fellow award, and was selected as an Athena Award Honoree in 2018 for excellence in her profession and support of other women. She received the Faculty Scholarship Award in the College of Business in 2020. Dr. Forret was elected twice to the Board of Directors of the Careers Division of the Academy of Management, served as President of the Rotary Club of Davenport, and served on the Board of Directors of Dress for Success Quad Cities. Prior to her academic career, Dr. Forret was a CPA and worked in Minneapolis as an auditor for Deloitte & Touche and for Prudential. She has taught at Long Island University, Franklin College in Switzerland, the University of Cologne, and has been an invited speaker at multiple colleges and universities in India.

Dr. Forret CV (pdf)

See Courses Taught


Education and Training


  • PhD, University of Missouri, Human Resources and Organizational Behavior
  • BA, St. Ambrose University, Accounting

More About Dr. Forret

Courses Taught

MGMT 315 Women in Business
MGMT 320 Human Resource Management
MBA 621 Human Behavior in Organizations
MBA 690 Leadership Through People Skills
DBA 901 Research Methodology
DBA 904 Dissertation Design and Development
DBA 910 Analyzing Behavior in Organizations
DBA 911 Managing Human Resources in a Global Environment
DBA 930 Careers
DBA 931 Training and Development
DBA 940 Leadership
DBA 951 Organizational Culture

Noteworthy Publications and Presentations

Davis, J., Wolff, H. G., Forret, M., & Sullivan, S. (2020). Networking via LinkedIn: An examination of usage and career benefits. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 118, 1-15.

Guillaume, P., Sullivan, S. E., Wolff, H. G., & Forret, M. L. (2019). Are there major differences in the attitudes and service quality of standard and seasonal employees? An empirical investigation and implications for practice. Human Resource Management, 58, 45-56.

McCallum-Ferguson, S., & Forret, M. L. (2018). Career challenge: Utilizing networking to develop abilities as a leader. In S. E. Sullivan & S. G. Baugh (Eds.), Research in careers (Vol. 4, pp. 1-21). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Forret, M. L. (2018). Networking as a job search and career management behavior. In U. C. Klehe & E. W. J. van Hooft (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of job loss and job search (pp. 275-292). New York: Oxford University Press.

McCallum, S. Y., Forret, M. L., & Wolff, H. G. (2014). Internal and external networking behavior: An investigation of relationships with affective, continuance, and normative commitment. Career Development International, 19, 595-614.

de Janasz, S., Forret, M., Haack, D., & Jonsen, K. (2013). Family status and work attitudes: An investigation in a professional services firm. British Journal of Management, 24, 191-210.

Wolff, H. G., Schneider-Rahm, C. I., & Forret, M. L. (2011). Adaptation of a German multidimensional networking scale into English. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 27(4), 244-250.

Forret, M. L., Sullivan, S. E., & Mainiero, L. A. (2010). An empirical investigation of traditional gender role differences in reactions to unemployment: Exploring psychological mobility and boundaryless careers. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 647-666.

Sullivan, S. E., Forret, M. L., Carraher, S. M., & Mainiero, L. A. (2009). Using the kaleidoscope career model to examine generational differences in work attitudes. Career Development International, 14(3), 284-302.

de Janasz, S., & Forret, M. (2008). Learning the art of networking: A critical skill for enhancing social capital and career success. Journal of Management Education, 32, 629-650.

Forret, M. L., & Love, M. S. (2008). Employee justice perceptions and coworker relationships. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 29, 248-260.

Parise, M. R., & Forret, M. L. (2008). Formal mentoring programs: The relationship of program design and support to mentors' perceptions of benefits and costs. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 72, 225-240.

Love, M. S., & Forret, M. L. (2008). Exchange relationships at work: An examination of the relationship between TMX and supervisor reports of organizational citizenship behavior. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 14, 342-352.

Sullivan, S. E., Forret, M. L., Mainiero, L. A., & Terjesen, S. (2007). What motivates entrepreneurs? An exploratory study of the kaleidoscope career model and entrepreneurship. Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, 12, 4-19.

Sullivan, S. E., Forret, M. L., & Mainiero, L. A. (2007). No regrets? An investigation of the relationship between being laid off and experiencing career regrets. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22, 787-804.

Forret, M. L., Tu, H. S., & Sullivan, S. E. (2007). The awakening dragon: An investigation of firm type and its relationship to the work outcomes and attitudes of Chinese managers. In L. L. Neider & C. A. Schriesheim (Eds.), Research in Management, Vol. 6, pp. 1-24. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Forret, M. L. (2006). The impact of social networks on the advancement of women and racial/ethnic minority groups. In Margaret F. Karsten (Ed.), Gender, ethnicity, and race in the workplace, Vol. 3, pp. 149-166. Westport, CT: Praeger.

Tu, H. S., Forret, M. L., & Sullivan, S. E. (2006). Careers in a nonwestern context: An exploratory empirical investigation of factors related to the career success of Chinese managers. Career Development International, 11(7), 580-593.

Forret, M., & de Janasz, S. (2005). Perceptions of an organization's culture for work and family: Do mentors make a difference? Career Development International, 10(6/7), 478-492.

Forret, M. L., & Dougherty, T. W. (2004). Networking behaviors and career outcomes: Differences for men and women? Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25, 1-19.

Forret, M. L., & Sullivan, S. E. (2002). A balanced scorecard approach to networking: A guide to successfully navigating career changes. Organizational Dynamics, 31(3), 245-258.

Forret, M. L., & Dougherty, T. W. (2001). Correlates of networking behavior for managerial and professional employees. Group & Organization Management Journal, 26, 283-311.

Turban, D. B., Forret, M. L., & Hendrickson, C. L. (1998). Applicant attraction to firms: Influences of organization reputation, job and organization attributes, and recruiter behaviors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 52, 24-44.

Forret, M. L., & Turban, D. B. (1996). Implications of the elaboration likelihood model for interviewer decision processes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 10, 415-428.

Forret, M. L., Turban, D. B., & Dougherty, T. W. (1996). Issues facing organizations when implementing formal mentoring programmes. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 17, 28-31.

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