Mission Statement

Lab Values & Commitments

We are committed to creating an environment where each lab member feels their individual identities are supported and respected.
Our work acknowledges and values the historical and sociopolitical context of racial/ethnic marginalized communities—processes that have direct implications for people’s experiences and interpersonal outcomes. We value these diverse lived experiences, acknowledge the impact of past and present discrimination on historically marginalized and privileged communities, support equitable solutions of accountability, and strive to engage and advocate for oppressed groups in the US.
We value belonging, safety, and mutual aid as essential to both our internal lab culture and our external impact.
As researchers, we approach our work with humility, cultural sensitivity, and mindfulness, ensuring our topics and methods are respectful and representative of the communities we study.

We recognize the strength that comes from diverse disciplines—including psychology, social work, criminal justice, human computer interaction, and computer science—and aim to build an intellectually inclusive community.
Collaboration is central: we support one another’s career and personal goals, drawing on our varied skills and connections to bring greater value to our studies.
We value openness, free thought, and positive regard, recognizing that our research is strengthened when we engage respectfully with different perspectives and lived experiences.
We strive to maintain balance—between research, advocacy, and
personal well-being—so that we can thrive individually and collectively.

We believe research is a form of advocacy: a way to amplify historically marginalized voices, shine light on invisible struggles, and challenge systems of inequality in our research, the broader higher education landscape, and society at large.
Our research addresses the individual, interpersonal, and institutional harms of racism in the U.S. context, with the goal of improving the lives of those most impacted as well as their allies.
We aim to contribute not only within our lab, but also to Rutgers University and the broader field of social psychology, particularly by supporting the inclusion of marginalized scientists and the study of marginalized populations.
We recognize that valuing diversity adds texture and beauty to the human experience, and we are committed to carrying that ethos into our research, teaching, and daily lives.