Two George Washington University professors were recognized as the world’s most Highly Cited Researchers of 2024 on Clarivate’s annual list. The prestigious distinction identifies the world’s most influential researchers. This top 1% of the global research community is made up of leading experts in their fields, driving groundbreaking advancements that push the boundaries of knowledge and yield innovations that make the world better.
The list featured Herman Aguinis, the Avram Tucker Distinguished Scholar and a professor of management, and Brandon Kohrt, the Charles and Sonia Akman Professor of Global Psychiatry, director of the Center for Global Mental Health Equity, and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral health.
Aguinis is among the highly selective list of the 41 most impactful economics and business researchers worldwide. This is the seventh consecutive year that Aguinis has appeared on the list. His interdisciplinary work focuses on data science and behavioral science. He is most well-known for his research on business leadership and star performance, workforce diversity, talent and performance management, corporate social responsibility and business sustainability, entrepreneurship and research methodology.
Aguinis expressed his gratitude for the recognition and said it was a collective achievement.
“Being on the Clarivate list is the result of collective research efforts,” Aguinis said. “I am deeply grateful for ongoing research with so many current and former students and colleagues at the GW School of Business, including Amando Cope, Bria Gibson, Ryosuke Yokoya, Isabel Villamor, Ravi Ramani, Hannah Kremer, Nawaf Alabduljader, Lauryn Burnett, Ursula Martin, Urusha Thapa, Sharon Hill, James Bailey, Cevat Tosun, Larry Yu and Jing Burgi-Tian. Their collaborations in co-authoring articles and securing research funding with me have been invaluable. This recognition truly belongs to all of us.”
Kohrt was ranked as one of the most influential researchers in the cross-field category. Researchers with cross-field impact are those who might contribute multiple highly cited papers in several different fields. The recognition tends to capture researchers who work at the intersection of different scientific or scholarly domains, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary research. This intersectional research reflects Kohrt’s dual training as an anthropologist and psychiatrist.
Kohrt has worked with children and families affected by war, political violence and disasters in Nepal, Haiti, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Brazil and Mongolia. He is also the scientific advisor for the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) Ensuring Quality in Psychosocial and Mental Health Care program which is establishing global competency standards for non-specialists delivering psychological interventions.
Kohrt said this distinction is a testament to the important work the GW Center for Global Mental Health Equityhas been doing.
“It is incredibly rewarding to witness the global impact of GW’s Center for Global Mental Health Equity and our dedicated collaborators worldwide,” Kohrt said. “The citations our research has received underscores the critical importance of addressing the mental health crisis on a global scale. It is a privilege to contribute to transformative research that reshapes mental health practice—ranging from reducing stigma in Nepal to empowering community organizations in New York City.”
