Diversity and inclusion
The Department of Educational Psychology is a vibrant and diverse community of scholars. Our graduate students represent over 22 different countries creating a globally diverse discourse on the cognitive, emotional, and social learning processes that underlie education and human development across the lifespan. Our faculty bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experience into their research and teaching. Our programs include international students and a diverse ethnic, cultural and socio-economic mix of domestic students.
Our commitment
The Department of Educational Psychology is deeply committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our undergraduate and graduate programs, in our teaching and learning, in our research and clinical practice, and in our outreach and service across fields of educational psychology. Our goal is to be a welcoming and affirming place where all faculty, staff, and students— Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander, Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA+, international scholars, those with disabilities, Deaf people, those with intersecting identities, and other members of diverse groups—feel supported to attain and exceed their expectations. Our department strives for social justice and to be a place where respectful exchanges of ideas allow us to embrace the power of diversity of perspectives and backgrounds to enrich us all.
Our research supporting diversity and inclusion
We are uniquely positioned as an applied social science program within the College of Education and Human Development to address issues that underlie education and human development across the lifespan. Specifically, many of our researchers are working to find ways to close opportunity gaps—like educational, career, developmental, social, and mental health outcomes and disparities—by improving how we identify and serve students who need additional support in order to succeed in schools. Learn more about our research on opportunity gaps.
Student and financial resources
Educational Psychology Equity, Diversity, and Anti-racism Student Site
Visit the Educational Psychology Student Site for more information on how you can get involved, where you can go for help, and anti-racism resources.
Tri-Psych Diversity Student Fund
The Tri-Psychology programs—Educational Psychology, Psychology, and the Institute of Child Development—at the University of Minnesota are deeply committed to supporting underrepresented students in the psychological sciences.
The goal of the Tri-Psych Graduate Student Diversity Fund is to build community and facilitate cross-departmental collaborations among Tri-Psych graduate students of color and/or student groups otherwise underrepresented in postsecondary education. We seek innovative proposals that provide opportunities to encourage and support students, gain insights from their shared and differing experiences, and build stronger relationships across departments.
Diversity in Psychology program
The program is designed for individuals who are historically underrepresented in psychology graduate programs and who are interested in learning about graduate training in the Department of Psychology, as well as graduate training in Child Development and Educational Psychology, at the University of Minnesota.
The virtual event features a coordinated set of formal and informal experiences designed to familiarize participants with strategies for constructing successful graduate school applications and to provide them with the opportunity to learn more about the experience of PhD programs in our departments.
Applications for 2023 are now closed. If you are interested in applying for the Diversity in Psychology Program (or know someone who would be interested), please visit the Department of Psychology's website for more information and how to apply.
Diversity of Views and Experiences fellowship
The Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship helps graduate programs promote the diversity of views, experiences, and ideas in the pursuit of research, scholarship and creative excellence. This diversity is promoted through the recruitment and support of academically excellent students (US citizens and US permanent residents only) with diverse ethnic, racial, economic, and educational backgrounds and experiences. The award includes a stipend for the academic year, plus tuition and subsidized health insurance. Prospective students are nominated by their chosen major department to compete in a University-wide competition.
Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change Fellowships
The Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) offers fellowships that provide financial support for graduate students at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Nominees should have backgrounds and interests that identify them as outstanding students who are clearly committed to the interdisciplinary study of the global south in the context of global change. We encourage nomination of exceptionally capable students, especially from the global south and groups traditionally underrepresented in graduate education.
Diversity in the College of Education and Human Development
We affirm the contributions of all people in our community. Diversity and equity are at the core of our mission in the College of Education and Human Development.
We explicitly reject bias, discrimination, and exclusion on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
We all are responsible for recognizing, confronting, and addressing bias and discrimination and diligently working for positive change in support of equity and diversity.
Diversity in the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are located within a major metropolitan area. The cities are home to a nationally recognized arts, music and theater community, and to several professional sports teams. The many distinctive neighborhoods, cultures and faith communities offer rich places for residents to discover a plethora of celebrations, multicultural dining and diverse entertainment options.
In recent years, a variety of rich and thriving immigrant and refugee populations have joined the more established African American and American Indian communities in the area. This includes the largest Somali population in the United States, the largest Hmong population outside Laos, the second-largest Vietnamese and Ethiopian populations and one of the fastest-growing Latino/Hispanic populations. The Twin Cities is also home to one of the country’s most vibrant LGBTQIA+ communities.