Engage
Our Commitment to Diversity
In 1967, the Diversity Committee was established as a formal organization in the Department
to promote minority issues and minority recruitment. In 1992, the Department created
the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) to provide research experience and
professional development training to underrepresented students in psychology. In 1998,
the Department of Psychology was honored with a University of Utah Diversity Award
in recognition of the Department's "leadership and commitment to enhance diversity
and expand opportunities for students, faculty, and staff."
In 2001-2002, Lisa G. Aspinwall and Lisa M. Diamond founded GASP, the GLBT Alliance in Social and Personality Psychology. Other faculty and students are similarly active in their respective professional
organizations. Lisa Aspinwall co-founded the Disability Advocacy & Research Network (DARN) in 2021.
In 2008-2009 school year, the Psychology Department was named the Ally Department
of the Year by the LGBT Resource Center for our ongoing support of the center. The
LGBT Resource Center provides educational and social programs, support services, and
resources for LGBT students, staff, faculty, alumni and the entire campus community
at the University of Utah.
In 2018, The Diversity Graduate School Application Advisory (DGSAA) was founded to offer underrepresented students mentorship and assistance on graduate and professional school applications. Through this initiative, DGSAA has also secured free test preparation materials in order to remove barriers to higher education. The group served 25 underrepresented students in 2018 under DGSAA president Spencer Castro.
Left: Robert Vlisides-Henry (Clinical), center: MaryJane Campbell (Clinical), right:
Grace Nicora (CNS)
In 2018, the Outreach Committee began organizing trips to southern Utah to discuss higher education opportunities and current research with rural high school students. Administrators or educators interested in a presentation by the Outreach Committee are encouraged to contact the group at utahpsychoutreach@gmail.com.
In 2019, a private lactation room was opened in the Social and Behavioral Science Building. Equipped with a computer, glider, rock and play, humidifier, and baby monitor, this space is ideal for students, faculty, and staff who need a private space to nurse while continuing to work on campus.
In 2019, The Outreach and Diversity Committees organized a Girls in STEM event. Partnered with the campus Women’s Resource Center, they hosted 60 girls from Jackson Elementary school. Psychology department faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students taught the girls about psychology and innovative research tools like virtual reality. Through this event, the girls had the opportunity to learn about careers in science and interact with other female-identifying scientists.
