The Black Scholar Series: Dr. Kevin Cokley
Dr. Kevin Cokley Heading link
We welcome our first speaker for the 2022-2023 Academic Year, Dr. Kevin Cokley, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan where he serves as Associate Chair of Diversity Initiatives for the Department of Psychology. Previously he was Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas, where he held the Oscar and Anne Mauzy Regents Professorship for Educational Research and Development. He has been a Fellow of the University of Texas System and University of Texas Academy of Distinguished Teachers, past Director of the Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis, and Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies. His research and teaching can be broadly categorized in the area of African American psychology, with a focus on racial identity and understanding the psychological and environmental factors that impact African American students’ academic achievement. Dr. Cokley studies the psychosocial experiences of African American students and students of color and is currently exploring the impostor phenomenon and its relationship to mental health and academic outcomes. He is the past Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Black Psychology, holds the title of Distinguished Psychologist and received the Scholarship Award from the Association of Black Psychologists. He is President of the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race, and was elected to Fellow status in the American Psychological Association for his contributions to ethnic minority psychology and counseling psychology. He is the recipient of the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, the Charles and Shirley Thomas Award for mentoring ethnic minority students, and the 10 Rising Stars of the Academy award by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. He is author of the 2014 book “The Myth of Black Anti-Intellectualism” that challenges the notion that African American students are anti-intellectual, and editor of the 2021 book “Making Black Lives Matter: Confronting Anti-Black Racism.” He has written several Op-Eds in major media outlets on topics such as critical race theory, Blacks’ rational mistrust of police, the aftermath of Ferguson, police and race relations, racism and White supremacy, the importance of ethnic studies, and racial disparities in school discipline. His research has been recognized in media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, and Inside Higher Education.
Sessions Heading link
Sessions:
Wednesday, October 12th | 9:30 – 11:00 AM CT
Main Lecture: African American Achievement and Mental Health: Negotiating Identity, Racism, and Impostor Feelings
This talk will review how a program of research examining racial identity and achievement led to a focus on the impostor phenomenon and mental health. Current research examining impostor feelings is discussed and data examining student-faculty interactions, university environment, and academic attitudes among Black students will be presented.
Wednesday, October 12th | 1:00 – 2:00 PM CT
Affinity Session: The Affinity Session provides the opportunity for Black students, staff, and faculty to come together in community with each other and the visiting scholar to collectively reflect on their realities of being Black and in the field of psychology.
Wednesday, October 12th | 2:30 – 3:30 PM CT
Special Session: Disseminating Public Scholarship Beyond the Academy: The Importance of Writing Op-Eds
This talk will inform individuals about the importance of engaging in public scholarship that goes beyond the academy. Individuals will learn about the structure of writing an op-ed and the type of impact it can have.
**Zoom Auto Transcription is provided. If you require a Live Transcriptionist, please email Jessica Shaw (jlshaw2@uic.edu) or Amanda Roy (alroy28@uic.edu).**