Bruce Gillies, Psy.D.

About

Bruce Gillies comes to CLU with a varied career. After 22 years of active duty in the Navy-- spending time on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, engine rooms on destroyers, and several years in human resources, he retired in March of 2000 as a Master Chief (E9). Bruce has also held leadership positions in colleges and universities as Faculty Advisor and Acting Dean of Adult Education. He holds a Doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University. His research interests are in career and leadership development as well as Sport Team development. Bruce Teaches courses in Business Statistics, Organizational Theory, Business Ethics, Leadership Theory and Practice, Behavior in Organizations, Sport Psychology, Foundations of I/O Psychology, and Organization Development.

Bruce's book, "The 21st Century Career Search System," provides readers with keen insights into the current state of career search. It also provides insight from the perspective of hiring managers and goes beyond just getting a job. It discusses the processes and value of finding a truly rewarding career. 

Bruce was the director of the Cal Lutheran Adult Degree Evening Program (ADEP) from 2005 to 2010. During that time, the ADEP grew three new majors, expanded to two satellite sites, and experienced a 10% growth in admissions. He has conducted scientific and applied research in organizational leadership, sport psychology, and organization development, and career development. 

From 2010 to 2021, Bruce was the Director of the School of Management Online programs. During this time, the program saw continuous growth in both quality and quantity of the online courses at CLU growing from 7 courses in 2010 to more than 30 in 2021. 

In his most recent position at CLU, Bruce was the director of the Sports Management programs, developing both the minor and major business degrees in Sports Management. The programs experienced significant growth during his tenure as Program Director, growing to be the 5th most popular Bachelor's Degree at Cal Lutheran.

He is also highly involved in student athletics as the Co-Faculty Athletic Representative, Faculty Mentor for Football, Soccer, and Baseball, and the Faculty Advisor for the CLU Kingsmen Ice Hockey Team. He is also the Chair for the Athletic Policy Committee. 

His consulting work has provided leadership coaching and training, career development program guidance to Fortune 500, and organizational restructuring to Government, Small Businesses, and International Organizations.

Bruce has also taught courses at Webster University, Pepperdine University, and University of North Carolina.

Education

• Doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Alliant International University 
• Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, United States International University
• Master of Arts in Psychology, United States International University
• Bachelor of Science in Sociology, University of the State of New York

Expertise

Executive Coaching, Team Building, Sports Leadership.  As an Organizational Development consultant, Bruce has worked with organizations ranging in size from 35 to 500,000 helping them developy systemic methods to improve retention, develop managerial leadership programs, and conduct intelligent downsizing endeavors.

Bruce has provided organizations with several training sessions on values based leadership, retention of key employees, career development processes and procedures, tuition reimbursement accounting, and shifting organizational cultures.  He has worked with athletic teams ranging from recreational sports to professional teams in improving mental skills. 

Career search and development both from an individual perspective and an organizational career development strategy perspective. 

Publications

Gillies, B. (2025) Organizational Politics: Bane or Boon? Colorado Springs Business Journal. 

Gillies, B. (2017) Organizational Politics: Key to Results. Pacific Business Times

Gillies, B. (2016) Commentary on Stephen Furlich's "Understanding Employee Motivation Through Managerial Communication Using Expectancy-Valence Theory," Journal of Integrated Social Science, 6(1) 38-42

Gillies, B. (2016)"The 21st Century Career Search System."  Prominent Books, Tampa Bay, FL

Gillies, B. (2010) Survive the recession, Thrive in the Recovery, Pacific Coast Business Times

Job Search in a Slow Economy, Pacific Coast Business Times, March 2009

Kantor, J, Costantino, M., & Gillies, B. (August 28, 2004). Problems at

     home may cause sick leave use. Paper presented at the Annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, HI.

Time Management, Memphis Business Journal, October 2002

Change Management, Memphis Business Journal, December 2002

Various articles on Career Transitions, Blue Jacket, Millington, TN 2001

Reducing Turnover, Memphis Business Journal, October 2001

Retention Programs, San Diego Business Journal, October 2000