Michigan State University's School of Human Resources and Labor Relations Celebrates Chenwei Liao's Promotion to Full Professor
Dr. Chenwei Liao
Michigan State University's School of Human Resources and Labor Relations (HRLR) is pleased to announce that Dr. Chenwei Liao has been promoted to full professor, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Liao is among the over 160 Michigan State University faculty members recognized this year through Michigan State University's promotion and tenure process in recognition of sustained excellence in research, teaching and service.
Dr. Liao's promotion reflects an internationally recognized record of scholarship in human resource management and organizational behavior. His research has made influential contributions to leadership and employment-relationship scholarship, particularly through his widely recognized work on servant leadership and individualized work arrangements. Through this research, he has advanced understanding of how leader behaviors, leader-follower relationships, and customized work arrangements shape employee motivation, well-being, and workplace performance.
"Dr. Liao is an exceptional scholar whose research has significantly advanced the field of human resource management and organizational behavior," said Dr. Jason Huang, director of the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations. "His work has helped shape major scholarly conversations on leadership and employment relationships through strong theoretical development, rigorous empirical research, and meaningful implications for organizations seeking to create effective and supportive workplaces. We are proud to celebrate his promotion to full professor."
Since joining Michigan State University, Dr. Liao has developed a sustained and influential research program spanning two interconnected areas: servant leadership and individualized employment relationships. His scholarship has helped clarify how leadership influences employee attitudes, motivation, and performance, while also advancing understanding of how customized work arrangements affect employee and organizational outcomes. Combining strong theoretical foundations with rigorous empirical research, his work has achieved broad visibility and influence within the field.
Research and Scholarly Impact
Over the course of his career at Michigan State University, Liao has developed a strong and influential research program examining leadership, employee attitudes, and organizational effectiveness. His work explores how leaders shape employee experiences and how organizational systems can be designed to foster engagement, trust, and long-term performance.
In recent years, his research has expanded to include the dynamics of leadership in complex and changing work environments, including remote and hybrid work contexts. His scholarship has helped clarify how managerial practices influence employee outcomes across diverse organizational settings and has informed both academic debate and practitioner approaches to leadership development.
Liao's work is widely published in leading academic journals in management and organizational research and is frequently cited for its contributions to leadership theory and applied human resource management practices.
Teaching and Service
In addition to his research accomplishments, Liao currently serves as the School's Associate Director for Graduate Programs, where he oversees one of the top rated HR and labor relations master's programs in the nation and emerging doctoral program. He is known for his engaging teaching style and his commitment to helping students develop strong analytical and leadership skills applicable to modern organizational challenges.
He has also provided significant service to the university and the broader academic community through editorial work, professional association engagement and mentorship of graduate students and junior scholars.
Recognition of Achievement
Promotion to full professor is the highest academic rank at Michigan State University and recognizes sustained excellence and international distinction in scholarship, teaching, and service. Liao's promotion reflects his long-standing contributions to advancing the field of human resource management and organizational behavior.
The School of Human Resources and Labor Relations congratulates Dr. Chenwei Liao on this significant achievement and celebrates his continued leadership in research, teaching and service.