Brenda C. Straka

I am a social and developmental psychologist studying the ways people navigate exclusion and discrimination and also construct social identities across multiple group memberships. I earned my Ph.D. and M.A. in Social Psychology from Duke University and my B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science with a minor in English from the University of Virginia. Currently, I am a research fellow at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Postdoctoral DRIVE Program.

In my first line of research, I explore the ways historically marginalized and underrepresented groups (e.g., Multiracial, Latino/a/x, Native American people, first-generation students) experience exclusion and negotiate their group-based identities. In my second line of research, I investigate the developmental cognitive foundations that underlie our understanding of group membership and identity.

My research aims to bring attention to identity-based exclusion experiences while simultaneously pushing for inclusivity and representation in research.

Starting Fall 2024, I will be an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

For prospective students: I will be reviewing doctoral applications in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.