Research Interests
My training is in Social Psychology with specialization in social cognition and intergroup relations. I examine stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. My particular focus is on stereotype violation and how individuals who violate expectations are evaluated and treated. I also examine how being a stereotype violator affects one's identity, psychological well-being, and physical health. I have examined targets of prejudice and discrimination who violate stereotypes including: women in male-dominated careers, men in female-dominated careers, employed mothers, stay-at-home fathers, female leaders, gay men, lesbians, and voluntarily child free women. My research also has examined the effects of stereotype threat on middle school girls' math performance, first generation and low income college students' academic performance, and women and racial minority students' leadership ability.
With grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, I am currently investigating the psychological, cultural, and educational factors that predict students' performance in STEM majors. I collaborate with engineering and science faculty on evaluating the effectiveness of robotics education and undergraduate research training programs and research teams. I have expertise in experimental design, survey methodology, and advanced statistical analysis. My research seeks to integrate and refine theories through the use of multiple types of measurement including explicit, implicit, objective, and behavioral.My research program has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Army Research Institute, Psi Chi, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the Haynes Foundation.
See my Curriculum Vitae for more detailed information on my research and funding history.
See the section on the Research Projects to learn about my current studies.
See my CLASS Faculty Profile to learn about my research program.
Ph.D. in Social Psychology, 
I have taught students in Introductory Psychology, Social Psychology, Applied Social Psychology, Research Methods, Experimental Psychology, Statistics, Psychology of Women, and Seminars on Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination, and Intergroup Relations. I have taught Master's level courses and served on thesis and dissertation committees. I offer courses face-to-face and online. Current students, log into