Faculty and Staff Directory

Introduction

I received training in Experimental Social Psychology. I received my B.A. in Psychology and Biology from Bard College in New York (2010), and my M.A. & Ph.D. in Social Psychology from New York University (2013; 2016). Before joining UW Tacoma in the Fall of 2018, I was an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY (2016-2017), and a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology at Macalester College in St Paul, MN (2015-2016).

I identify as a first generation Chinese immigrant. This identity and experience have shaped my perspectives, my scholarly work, and how I relate to others including my students. When I'm not working, I read, play music, volunteer with mission driven organizations, and spend time with my family. 

Current Research

In general, my research centers on understanding collective identities, social perception and intergroup relations. I have, along with my colleagues, proposed a Perceptual Model of Intergroup Relations, which outlines the role of perception in intergroup processes (Xiao et al., 2016, Psychological Inquiry). I have empirically evaluated the model in my doctoral dissertation and follow up research, examining the role of biased perception in simulated police decision making process involving members of racial minorities. My research has also examined how group identities inform our understanding of whether implicit attitudes and biases are malleable. I have also investigated psychological mechanisms, such as moral outrage and threat perception, that underlie consequential social and policy attitudes, including support for social safety net policies. 

More recently, I have bridged my expertise in social psychology and a growing interest in Asian American Psychology. My work has examined how the field of psychology conceptualizes and measures racial and ethnic identity in the AANHPIs (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander), and the role of racial/ethnic identities in how Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) react to and cope with stigmatization and discrimination. I have also developed community-engaged scholarship in collaboration with AAPI serving community organizations to design, implement, and assess theoretically grounded workshops to promote radical hope among AAPI youths. 

Teaching

I am deeply committed to undergraduate education, and promoting equitable and impactful pedagogical practices for all.

Courses that I currently offer or previously offered:

• Social Psychology
• Fundamentals of Psychological Research I
• Fundamentals of Psychological Research II
• Stereotyping, Prejudice & Discrimination
• Attitudes & Persuasion
• Automaticity & Control
• Asian American Psychology

Affiliations

• Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)
• Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP)
• Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS)
• Minds Matter Seattle
• Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
• Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)