Melissa Morgan of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School has been named an American Psychological Association (APA) Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race, Division 45 Fellow. This is a highly meritorious distinction as less than six percent of APA members achieve fellow status. Morgan had previously been named a Fellow of the Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17 of the APA.
The Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race, Division 45 of the American Psychological Association (APA), encourages research on ethnic minority issues and the application of psychological knowledge to ethnic minority issues. The division promotes public welfare through research and encourages professional relationships among psychologists who share these concerns and interests. From its inception, the Division has sponsored programs at the annual convention of the APA. Programs have included scientific papers, symposia, and poster sessions through which the membership of the Division and those interested in the application of psychological principles in ethnic minority issues could exchange ideas and disseminate research findings. Reflective of the diversity of interests within the division, topics have covered a range of ideas related to ethnic minorities which include psycho-social stress, HIV/AIDS, development of self-identity, psychological assessment, substance abuse, sexuality and sex roles, and other topics.
Melissa Morgan is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology (CCSP) and CCSP Director of Clinical Training. She specializes in multicultural, international, and immigrant research, with an emphasis on Latino/a populations. In particular, she focuses on the areas of resilience and thriving and their relationship to cultural variables. All of this research is conducted through a social justice lens, utilizing qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods designs as well as community-based research paradigms. Her goal is for research to be culturally relevant, informative in the development of prevention and other community programs, and useful in addressing societal issues of concern for the populations with whom she works. Morgan is the Vice Chair of UC Santa Barbara’s Academic Senate, with a special portfolio for advancing diversity and equity.