Psychology has a deeply personal stake in diversity and inclusion. Our science will never be complete without embracing and understanding all that it means to be human. Because a safe and equitable environment is essential to the honest expression of the human self, we are committed to welcoming all forms of human diversity including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, religious affiliation, socioeconomic status, nation of origin/cultural background, and age.
The events of 2020 – the dehumanizing brutality and unequal treatment visited upon people of color, particularly African Americans – have signaled a moment of reckoning. We recognize that we must do more if we are to build a truly inclusive, diverse, and equitable department, a place where all historically marginalized people feel welcome to participate in the study of the human mind. It is time for us to rethink our paradigms of expectation. We are moving too slowly.
To that end, the department dedicates itself and its resources to:
- Elevating the department’s climate of inclusiveness.
- Recruitment and retention of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty from marginalized and under-represented populations.
- Development of partnerships with diverse communities on campus and in Tallahassee.
- Implementing curricular changes needed to prepare our undergraduate and graduate students to become citizens and professionals in a diverse world.
Our university is also committed to change. Thus, we will be guided and aided in our efforts by FSU’s Task Force on Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion.
To the present and future students, faculty, and staff of this department, our goal is to be a place where the totality of your life experience – your history, culture, and your future aspirations – are valued, respected, and nurtured.