The Department of Psychology is committed to embedding diversity in our research. This commitment includes the inclusion of research participants who identify as members of diverse socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, religious, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, and ability groups. This commitment also includes examination of the factors that exacerbate and mitigate group disparities and discrimination. Below, you will find a sampling of faculty research interests that align with our goal of embedding diversity in our research.
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion About Psychology Research
School Psychology
Courtney Baker’s research focuses on understanding and improving how evidence-based practices are implemented in low-income settings serving young children and their families. The goal of her research program is to address and eliminate disparities in health and achievement for marginalized or vulnerable populations, including children who are racial and ethnic minority group members, who live in poverty, who have developmental disabilities or other special healthcare or learning needs, or who have experienced trauma.
Bonnie Nastasi’s research focuses on the development and evaluation of culturally appropriate assessment and intervention approaches designed to promote health and mental health. She has developed and helped implement intervention programs to reduce sexual risk and promote mental health in Sri Lankan schools and reduce sexual risk among young adults; educational curricula to promote social development in New Haven and New Orleans Public Schools; and sexual risk prevention programs for men and women in India. Most recently, her research focuses on international perspectives in understanding child well-being.
Brain, Cognition, and Developmental Science
Michael Cunningham’s research focuses on social developmental outcomes, with a specific focus on academic motivation, identity processes, and gender-specific trajectories that are associated with resilience and vulnerability in African American children and adolescents.
Julie Markant’s research focuses on individual differences in infant learning, including early perception of same- and other-race faces.
Stacy Overstreet’s research has examined the interplay between trauma and the neurobiological, social, and psychological functioning of youth. Her most recent work focuses on the implementation of trauma-informed approaches in schools as a way to address the needs of youth exposed to trauma. Given the complexity of trauma, Dr. Overstreet’s work is inherently interdisciplinary and involves collaborations between the University, New Orleans public schools, the New Orleans Health Department, community mental health agencies, and public policy institutes.
Social and Health Psychology
Michael Hoerger is a clinical health psychologist and decision scientist who conducts research aimed at supporting quality of life in adults with cancer. His research includes on healthcare decision making and service utilization, patient-provider communication, patient education and empowerment, and health disparities. He is particularly interested in increasing utilization of palliative care, a multidisciplinary service for patients with advanced cancer or serious symptoms that is designed with the goal of supporting quality of life.
Lisa Molix's interests lie with intergroup relations, health and well-being among marginalized populations, and the intersections among these areas.
Damian Murray’s research includes the consequences of a disease-avoidance motive for cultural differences.
Laurie O’Brien studies prejudice and stigma from the perspective of both targets and perpetrators. Research encompasses topics such as stereotype threat, status legitimizing ideologies, and perceptions of prejudice and discrimination.
Janet Ruscher focuses primarily on stereotyping and prejudice in communication and language.
