Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Department of Psychology

The SDSU Department of Psychology is committed to diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice for our students, staff, faculty, administrators, and broader community. Our department aspires to create, advance, and disseminate knowledge through research, teaching, and service in a collaborative and inclusive environment. We are dedicated to fostering innovation, critical thinking, community engagement, and science-based interventions to address real-world problems benefitting diverse communities.

Culture and diversity are embedded in our lives, profession, and university. Our educational and research activities are enriched by our local contexts including our close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border and to 18 federally recognized Native American tribes in San Diego County, our main campus location on Kumeyaay land, our designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, our ethnically/culturally diverse student body, and our ties to San Diego’s ethnically/culturally diverse communities. Our scholarship and teaching should reflect this diversity and be an integral part of our activities as a department. We know that a diverse, inclusive, and equitable psychological science, viewed through the lens of social justice, benefits all members of our community and beyond.

We are aware that we need to confront inequities embedded in our education system and in our field. Often, theories, findings, and prominent psychologists featured in our courses reflect inherent biases in education and research. We also acknowledge that many of our students and colleagues contend with biases in the form of micro-aggressions, subtle communications, expressions of colorblindness, invisibility, formal policies, academic requirements, and blatant insults or threats.

As a department, we are committed to addressing inequities on our campus, within our disciplines, and in our communities by changing our perceptions, practices, and policies. Key stakeholders within the department (i.e., undergraduate and graduate students, tenured, tenure-track, and lecturer faculty, research scientists, and staff) have started this process by examining current curriculum, student outcomes, and departmental policies and procedures. We are in the process of identifying meaningful changes to instructional activities, field and research opportunities, and admission, hiring, and promotion practices that perpetuate inequities. The long-term goals for our department include (but are not limited to):

Achieving equitable student outcomes, such as passing classes, continuing education, and graduation rates.
Supporting students’ qualitative educational experiences, including creating/sustaining a climate of inclusion.
Increasing diversity of hires across all levels.
Creating a climate of inclusion that supports the retention of underrepresented employees at all levels.
Generating/applying new knowledge related to diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice.

DEI Committee

We are passionate about increasing and supporting the diversity, equity, and inclusivity of the Department of Psychology, and are looking for students who share our passion.

Join our committee and keep the work going: Complete Interest Form