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Washington State University
College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology

DIPC LogoMission of the Diversity in Psychology Committee

Welcome to the Diversity in Psychology Committee (DIPC)! The mission of the Diversity in Psychology Committee is to promote social equity and social justice in the field of psychology, which is accomplished through commitment to advocacy and continuous education, as well as recruitment and retention of diverse students. Due to the historical inequity and injustice for underrepresented groups as well as the importance of diverse perspectives in psychology, we hope to contribute to a growing awareness, respect, and appreciation of all individuals, regardless of identity.

Upcoming DIPC Events

Click here to view DIPC’s calendar of events.

DIPC Officers

Aurora Brinkman and Erinn Savage, Co-Chairs

Dr. Conny Kirchhoff, Faculty Co-Chair

Aaron Bonnette and Ela Sehic, Historians 

Subcommittee Chairs

Aaron Bonnette and Ela Sehic, DEIP Talk Chairs

Allegra Campagna and Shelby Johnson, Admissions and Outreach Chairs

Callan Lujan, Diversifying Research Symposium Chair

Greg Keiser, Funding Chair

Hannah Levy, Art as Action Chair

Xingzi (Jamie) Li, Climate Survey Chair

Previous DIPC Chairs

2019-2020: Greg Keiser and Katrina McDougall

2018-2019: Steven Hobaica and Shari Reiter

2017-2018: Emily Faust and Catherine Sumida

2017-2019: Dr. Paul Kwon, Faculty Co-Chair

Resources for Supporting Diverse Individuals and Communities

Resources for Supporting Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)

Resources for Supporting Individuals with Disabilities

Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Community

Resources for Diverse Individuals and Communities

Resources for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)

Resources for Individuals with Disabilities

Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Community

Call to Action

During Summer 2020, a group of Diversity in Psychology Committee (DIPC) leadership members developed a series of guidances and recommendations to address structural and systemic barriers to the recruitment and retention of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) in the WSU Psychology Department and psychology field. This plan was created in collaboration with faculty to propose concrete action steps our department can take to work towards greater inclusion, equity, and justice in our graduate program. We recognize that we are members of a predominantly white graduate program and diversity committee. The action steps listed in the document were developed based on information learned from BIPOC clinicians and students in mental health and academia. Over the Fall 2020 semester, student and faculty members have been working together to develop measurable, concrete steps for implementing these action steps into the WSU Clinical Psychology program.

DIPC’s Ongoing Efforts

  • Diversity and Ethical Issues in Psychology (DEIP): Speaker series regarding diversity and ethical issues in psychology with guest speakers. Topic suggestions are made by current students and faculty.
  • Admissions and Outreach Committee: undergraduate mentorship events including panels, talks, and mentor-mentee relationships; graduate student mentorship; diversity recruitment weekend; student advice guides for various parts of graduate school; textbook lending library
  • Climate Survey: Ongoing development of a department climate survey to identify areas of strength and areas of growth for diversity and equity promotion and student-faculty and student-student climate.
  • Art as Action: Lectures, events, and performances to promote social change through art
  • Diversifying Research Symposium: Posters, presentations, and literature reviews by undergraduate and graduate students and community members to promote diversity and equity in research. The goal of this symposium is to create sustainable community change using research. This event will take place online in April 2021.
  • Funding: Supporting funding for subcommittees; identifying funding opportunities to support DIPC initiatives
  • Mental Health Panel: A yearly panel of graduate students sharing their experiences with mental health and how being a graduate student may affect one’s ability to take care of or seek services for their mental health
  • Article Discussions: DIPC member discussions about articles addressing diversity and equity in research, graduate training, clinical work, education, and other settings and contexts.

Previous DIPC Events

An asterisk (*) denotes a DEIP speaker.

End of Year Potluck: Hosted by DIPC to celebrate food from ones’ culture

Art as Action, a performance lecture by Jessica Cerullo and Tia Kramer in collaboration with performers from Whitman College’s Department of Theatre and Dance and the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition.

*”Working with Undocumented Students” presented by Marcela Pattinson

*”Mass Incarceration and Criminal Justice Issues in Psychology” presented by  Dr. Faith Lutze

*”Washington State’s Death with Dignity Act” presented by social worker Jessica Rivers

*”The Historical Relationship Between Psychology and Native America: Disparities in Research and Treatment and Native Perspectives Upon Mental Health” presented by Dr. Kenneth Lokensgard

*”Underrepresentation of Minorities in Academia” presented by Dr. Paul Kwon

*”Psychological Science in a Cultural Context: Role of Self-Regulation in the Depressive Experiences of American Indian Youth from a Northern Plains Tribe” presented by Dr. Walt Scott

*”Seeking Psychological Help Among Asians: From Etic to Emic” presented by Dr. Hsinya Liao

*”Mental Health Issues Among Psychologists in Training and Early Career Professionals, Particularly in Academia” presented by Dr. Conny Kirchhoff

*”Gendered Communication in the Work Place” presented by Dr. Rebecca Craft