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Diversity in the Department of Psychology

Culture and cultural context are central to understanding human behavior. A deep understanding of culture and context is required to conduct meaningful research, develop relevant interventions, provide accurate psychological assessment and effective psychological services, and carry out inclusive teaching and mentoring activities. The very survival of the profession requires that psychologists deepen and broaden our ability to take culture and context into account in all of our professional activities. The Usu Psychology Department is committed to engaging in a psychology that is relevant to all now, and into the future through thoughtful training and mentoring of the next generation of psychologists.

Diversity Focused Faculty and Research Labs

Sue Crowley
Identity formation

Youth Development, Context and Prevention Lab | Rick Cruz
Culture and family processes in Latinx adolescent mental health and substance use

Culture & Mental Health Lab | Melanie Domenech Rodriguez
Parenting, Latinx families, and multicultural psychology

Renee Galliher
Intersecting identities: relational and cultural contexts

Tohi Lab | Melissa Tehee
Racism, domestic violence, and trauma among American Indians


PSY 4230, Psychology of Gender – Critical analysis of evidence for sex differences, gender roles, and the effect of gender on traditional psychology and other topics including parenthood, cultural influence, and sexual orientation.

PSY 4240, Multicultural Psychology – Explore cultural influences on basic psychological processes including perception, cognition, language, emotion, intelligence, attitudes, values, and intergroup relations.

PSY 6290, Diversity Issues in Treatment and Assessment: Knowledge  - Focus on the guidelines for working with diverse clients along dimensions of gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, ability status, and age among others.

PSY 6291, Diversity Issues in Treatment and Assessment: Self-Awareness  - Explore personal and professional worldviews with an emphasis on exposing students to theories (e.g. Multicultural, Feminist, Critical) that can provide alternative or meta-theoretical conceptualizations to existing theories of change.

PSY 6292, Diversity Issues in Treatment and Assessment: Skills  - Develop skills for the treatment and assessment of diverse clients including cultural adaptations, cultural formulation interview, general skills for engaging in difficult dialogues, and the use of specific techniques such as family genograms.