Jojanneke van der Toorn is professor by special appointment of LGBT+ Workplace Inclusion at Leiden University and associate professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at Utrecht University.

More information about Jojanneke van der Toorn

Jojanneke van der Toorn is professor by special appointment of LGBT+ Workplace Inclusion at Leiden University and associate professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at Utrecht University. 

Research on workplace inclusion

Van der Toorn studies diversity and inclusion at work, in particular with regard to LGBTQ+ employees. On the one hand, she focusses on organizational programs and practices: what are blind spots in diversity and inclusion policy, what is their influence on job seekers, employees and organizations as a whole, and in which way can these patterns be broken? On the other hand, she examines the psychological processes through which majority and minority group members contribute to the maintenance of group-based inequalities at work and in society.

In her work, Van der Toorn makes a concerted effort to bridge science and society with the aim of contributing to effective and evidence-based diversity policies. To this end, she and her colleagues have developed the Netherlands Inclusivity Monitor, which aims to (1) diagnose the effectiveness of an organization’s diversity and inclusion policies, (2) compare the organization’s score with a benchmark score derived from other participating organizations, and (3) provide concrete and evidence-based suggestions for improvement. In addition, Van der Toorn consults organizations and the government on the topic of diversity and inclusion, and leads an executive masterclass on effective D&I policy.   

She also closely collaborates with Workplace Pride, the International Platform for LGBTIQ+ inclusion at work, InclusieNL, and Diversity at Work.

Current projects

It has to work. Inclusiveness in the labor market through synergy between science and practice

To what extent are Dutch work organisations diverse and inclusive? And what can they do to develop this further? These questions are explored in this research project, by comparing and analysing data from the NIM and the Diversity Charter Monitor based on the latest scientific insights. The results are translated into practically useful tools and advice for NIM participants, Diversity Charter signatories, and other stakeholders.

» Learn more about this project 

The Power of One: Towards the Representation of Unheard and Unseen Individuals in the Hospital, Workplace and Neighbourhood

This research project examines the barriers that prevent professionals from assessing the needs of marginalized groups, and that prevent marginalized groups from making their needs and views known to professionals. Through interviews, participatory research, and co-creation methods, and by collaboration with societal partners (e.g., The Netherlands Patient Federation, LGBTQI+ interest groups, the Eindhoven Library), this study investigates how those individuals in society who are often not reached can improve their self-reliance and can be better heard and seen.

» Learn more about this project 

Academic citizenship

Van der Toorn is a founder of the Interuniversity Network on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Dutch Political Psychology Meetings, a former (board)member of the Utrecht Young Academy, and active participant in and organizer of several symposia, conferences, and scientific networks around social, organizational and political psychology.

She currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP) and Frontiers in Social Psychology.

Her work has received several distinctions, including the Gratama Science Prize for young and excellent researchers.

Short CV

Jojanneke van der Toorn obtained M.A. degrees in Psychology (2003) and Cultural Anthropology (2005; cum laude) from the Free University Amsterdam. She then completed a Ph.D. in Social Psychology at New York University in 2010.

After working as a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University (2010-2012) and as an Assistant Professor at Leiden University (2012-2016), she’s currently Professor by Special Appointment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Workplace Inclusion at Leiden University, and Associate Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at Utrecht University.

Grants, fellowships and subsidies

• Goldschmeding Foundation grant (PI), 2023
• Center for Unusual Collaborations grant (co-applicant), 2023
• Goldschmeding Foundation grant (PI), 2022
• Center for Unusual Collaborations grant (co-applicant), 2022
• Goldschmeding Foundation grant (PI), 2021
• Center for Unusual Collaborations grant (PI), 2021
• Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Grant in Aid (co-applicant), 2021
• Goldschmeding Foundation grant (PI), 2020
• Utrecht Young Academy grant (PI), 2020
• Aspasia writing grant (PI), 2019
• Europe Network Fund (co-applicant), 2019
• Instituut Gak grant (co-applicant), 2019
• SEED Money grant (co-applicant), 2018
• Aspasia travel grant, 2016
• Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Conference Subsidy, 2015
• International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP) Small Grant, 2015
• Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Grant in Aid, 2012
• The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) Rubicon Grant (PI), 2011
• International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP) Junior Scholars Committee Travel Grant, 2011
• International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP) Small Grant, 2011
• International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP) Junior Scholars Committee Travel grant, 2009
• Friends of Katzell Summer Fellowship for Applied Research in Psychology (PI), 2009
• Richard J. Campbell Travel Grant, 2008
• New York University Graduate Student Travel Grant, 2006, 2007, 2008
• New York University Humanities Grant, 2007
• Foundation Dr. Hendrik Muller’s Vaderlandsch Fonds, 2005
• Henry Mitchell MacCracken Fellowship, 2005 – 2010
• Fulbright Scholarship, 2004

PhD's

• Kshitij Mor, Utrecht University 2021-present 
• Chenhao Zhou, Utrecht University 2021-present 
• Paula Hoffmann, Utrecht University 2021-present 
• Birgit van Winden, Leiden University 2021-present 
• Marjon Bohré, Leiden University 2020-present 
• Anat Ruhrman, Leiden University 2019-present 
• Onur Sahin, Leiden University 2017-present 
• Maarten van Bezouw, VU University of Amsterdam 2015-2020 

Publications

Activities