Faculty
Sara Emily Burke
Dr. Burke received her Ph.D. from Yale University in 2016. She is an associate professor in social psychology at Syracuse University. She studies intergroup bias—stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and experiences of stigma. Specifically, her research focuses on variations in the way bias operates depending on the groups it targets, and one of her central goals is expanding the scientific knowledge base to better account for underexamined targets of bias. For example, some of her studies about perceptions of biracial and bisexual people indicate that dismissive reactions to the very concept of a group can help explain prejudice. These results might have been difficult to predict based on traditionally studied groups alone. The research section of this website provides some examples of the research conducted in the lab. For details about Dr. Burke, see her personal website, which includes statistics resources and contact information. Here is a recent version of her CV.
Ph.D. Students
Alexandria Jaurique
Ally Jaurique is a graduate student in the social psychology program at Syracuse University. Her research focuses on intergroup relations, prejudice, and discrimination from a social identity perspective. Specifically, she is interested in the psychological antecedents of prejudice toward people with multiple marginalized identities (e.g., transgender women).
Minnie McMillian
Minnie McMillian is a graduate student in the social psychology program at Syracuse University. Her research, more broadly, focuses on exploring manifestations of racism on those from marginalized communities. Specifically, she is interested in studying vicarious racism experiences through media sources and its impact on African Americans’ psychological and physiological wellbeing.
Camryn O’Conner
Camryn’s research focuses on race, racism, and whiteness, exploring how people talk about race in classrooms, what triggers racial attitudes, and how racial identity shapes opportunities. She’s also interested in how white supremacy shows up in mainstream culture — especially in the idea of a white Jesus — and what that says about race, religion, and power.
Ben Valen
Ben Valen is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and graduate student in the social psychology Ph.D. program at Syracuse University. Their research broadly falls at the intersection of intergroup bias/close relationships and LGBTQ+ identity. Specifically, Ben’s current research interests include outgroup perceptions of transgender and non-binary people, affectionate touch among sexual minority couples, and experiences of LGBTQ+ Christians.
Alumni
Mackenzie McDonald
Mackenzie received her Ph.D. from the Social Psychology program at Syracuse in 2023. Her research interests broadly include intergroup relations, stereotyping, and prejudice. She is particularly drawn to under-studied topics and populations, such as class prejudice and prejudice toward sexual and gender minorities (e.g., bisexual, pansexual identities and non-binary, agender identities). For the latest on her research, see her current faculty profile.