People-old format

                           Lab Director
Dr. Tiffany Brannon, Assistant Professor, CCL Director

Tiffany N. Brannon received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Social Psychology from Stanford University and her B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University. Her research examines socio-cultural identities in negatively stereotyped groups such as African-Americans and Latino-Americans; and she investigates the potential for these identities to serve as a psychological resource— one that can facilitate a variety of individual and intergroup benefits. Her research integrates basic psychological theories related to the self, multicultural experiences, and consistency theories to understand the conditions that allow culturally shaped identities in negatively stereotyped groups to function as powerful agents of social change. This research has demonstrated that culturally shaped identities when affirmed within mainstream educational settings can increase academic motivation and performance in members of negatively stereotyped groups and can improve the intergroup attitudes of majority group members.

                                    Graduate Students
Gerald Higginbotham, 1st year doctoral candidate
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
I believe that studying diversity in a way that treats identities as tied to particular experiences and histories is vital as the U.S. grows more diverse along various identities. I think that it is critical to understand how identities work in academic spaces to ensure that all students feel like they belong in these spaces while not needing to downplay parts of their identity they may view as important. I feel that being able to be yourself and interact with others who are bringing their own diverse backgrounds and perspectives into a situation can significantly contribute to learning how to coexist and appreciate differences in an increasingly connected world.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
Although I do identify as a nerd, I feel most connected to UCLA when I am doing things outside of school and research. I really like interpersonal interactions with UCLA undergraduates, other graduate students and faculty. One particular time where I felt socially connected to UCLA was when the CCL lab went to see an early screening of the Fox series “Shots Fired,” because in addition to getting to interact interpersonally, I felt that I was a part of a unique experience shared only between those at UCLA.
Kimberly Martin, incoming doctoral candidate
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
I believe it is important to study diversity and inclusion because it offers the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the world we live in and the various and beautiful identities that each person has. We can investigate topics such as intergroup interactions, differing perceptions of individuals based on group membership and discriminatory treatment with the goal of advocating and finding mechanisms for change that helps others as we work toward recognizing, better understanding, respecting and celebrating one another.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
I can honestly say even before moving to LA I felt socially connected to UCLA because of the warm, inviting and helpful interactions I had with the faculty and the students. I am so looking forward to strengthening these connections and building more of them as I start my studies at UCLA.
Lianne Barnes, 4th year doctoral candidate
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
If we truly want to understand human experience, we need to understand all human experience. There is a vast, rich world that has been largely ignored by science until recently. More than that, however, is our obligation as scientists to improve people’s lives, and we can only do that if we study those who have been left behind.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
There is an organization in our department called UGSP (Underrepresented Graduate Students in Psychology), in which students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and students who have experienced adversity all help each other navigate academia and provide a space to vent and bond. UGSP helped me feel socially connected and supported when I arrived here.

                          Undergraduate Students
Independent Research/Honors Students
Rhiannon Davies, 4th year Psychobiology student
How long have you been in CCL? 5 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
Diversity and inclusion are prominent issues in today’s society and the most important part of studying these topics is the application in day-to-day life. The data produced from studying diversity and inclusion can be applied to universities, workplaces, etc. and the impact could be incredible.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
I’m an editor for the Daily Bruin and I feel very socially connected to UCLA while working late into the night during production with my fellow editors. Working with my peers in order to engage other students with UCLA-related content and news is such an amazing experience, especially along with the laughs that come with late nights in the office.

Isabel Leamon, 4th year Psychology and Anthropology student
How long have you been in CCL? 3 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
Most people’s understandings of diversity and inclusion are based on their own lived experiences and identities. By scientifically studying diversity and inclusion, we can eliminate some of this subjectivity and educate people about others’ perspectives, especially those viewpoints underrepresented in mainstream media and positions of power. This is crucial for improving policy decisions and intergroup interactions.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
I felt socially connected to UCLA earlier this year when I attended the UCLA Critical Race Symposium. Hearing UCLA professors present their research and discuss issues I am passionate about, I felt like a part of the UCLA academic community.
Dreama Rhodes, 4th year Psychology Major and Education Studies Minor student
How long have you been in CCL? 2 quarters and counting …
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
It is important to study diversity because it is something we are constantly exposed to, and will always be exposed to. To me, inclusion is always important to study, but especially in the context of education. There are too many negative effects that can arise when students are excluded from academics.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
As a Cub Tour guide and a New Student Orientation Advisor, I get the opportunity to brag about how great UCLA is and also help incoming students plan their career here. Participating in these organizations allowed me to meet a variety of people, attend more events on and off campus, and showed me how my job and volunteering opportunity helped me find my place here at UCLA. I like being able to tell prospective and incoming students about the communities I am part of and show them this is an option for them too. 
Tracy Saw, 4th year Psychology and Global Studies student
How long have you been in CCL? 5 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
World Peace – the conflicts that have plagued our global community for the past decade has been built on racial intolerance, prejudice and segregation. Understanding how individuals can better embrace diversity and how inclusive environments can be created are the baby steps to making a peaceful world 🙂
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
My very first BeatSC Rally – it was a year that there was no bonfire but the school spirit was certainly burning strong within us and I got to experienced the best 8-clap ever!

Research Assistants
Angeli Indran, 2nd year Psychology student
How long have you been in CCL? 2 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
It is so important to study diversity and inclusion because it is extremely difficult to understand the perspective and experiences of others who are not like ourselves. Studying diversity and inclusion is one of the best ways to accomplish this goal of better social understanding.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA.
I felt socially connected to UCLA when I first started engaging in extracurricular activities. Before I did this, I felt like just another face in a classroom without somewhere to belong. After this change, I felt more involved in my community and connected to my peers.
Nia McClinton, 1st year Psychology student

How long have you been in CCL? 2 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
I believe that studying diversity and inclusion is crucial to creating the world that is considerate and accepting of all identities and creeds of people. More importantly being socially aware and active on issues of diversity and inclusion is necessary work, that will only lead to the betterment of the world for everyone.

Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
One time when I felt the most socially connected to UCLA was when I was first accepted. Being admitted and attending registration and seeing all of the other student’s positive energy really inspired me to make my experience here a great one.
Evelyn Vazquez, 3rd year Psychology

How long have you been in CCL?2 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
I believe it is important to study diversity and inclusion because it is the starting point to see where as a society we need to grow and how we can improve. It also validates the lived experiences of other individuals who at times don’t have a name or feel they are alone in an experience.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA? I felt socially connected the first time I stepped on this campus after getting my letter of admission at a yield event. They made me feel like I did belong on this campus and had a community that was unique to UCLA in a way that I hadn’t experienced at any other campus. I saw celebration of ourselves as unique individuals with a shared goal throughout the following days interacting with the various other students accepted

                          Lab Alumni
Aaron Kinsfather, Departmental Honors researcher, Class of 2017
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
I think it’s important because it affects us all. We all ARE diversity, we make up the rich, complex people of this world, and those differences between us should be celebrated. We are also responsible for inclusion, we help create the environment around us and can be the difference between a welcoming environment and a hostile one. We have a responsibility to ourselves and each other to make this world more inclusive for everyone.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
I feel connected to UCLA every time I meet and work with members of the CCL lab. The people in this lab have become more than just my friends; they’re like a little family for me here at UCLA. We have such robust conversations about current events on campus and on a national and global level, and these conversations often turn to research and how we would study these situations in the lab. It’s an inspiring environment, and I feel connected to each and every person in there who supports and encourages me.
Eduardo Lara, Independent Research student, Class of 2017
How long have you been in CCL? 5 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
It is important to study diversity and inclusion to take into consideration the wide range of thoughts and experiences that exists in our society. Specifically, people from diverse backgrounds offer new perspectives that can help to make research and education more comprehensive/representative for people of all backgrounds.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
The Word is an open mic and spoken word event held each week in Kerckhoff Hall. My first time going to this event, I was moved by the ways that UCLA students unapologetically expressed themselves through poetry and art. In this space I felt connected to the experiences of these students and was compelled to get involved in arts and activism at UCLA.
Shani Levi, independent research student, 4th year Psychology student

How long have you been in CCL? 5 quarters
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
At the age of 12, I moved to the United States from Israel, this allows me to look at everyday problems from a different perspective. It is extremely important for me to study diversity and inclusion because I think people from different countries share more similarities than differences. I would like to teach others about how to get along and reduce the hate among other countries or cultures.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
One time when I felt socially connected to UCLA was when I attended my first football game. This is the first big sporting event I have been to which made the energy and enthusiasm in the crowd more enjoyable. It made me feel connected to other bruins from all different majors, class grades, and races, we all came together to cheer on the same football team.
Frida Rojas-Cisneros, Class of 2017

How long have you been in CCL? 2 quarter
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion?
It’s important to study diversity and inclusion because if a student doesn’t feel like they belong at their university, that might reflect negatively on their grades. Universities need to implement policies based on research that has proven to be effective on inclusion and diversity in order to positively impact the experience of higher education for underrepresented students.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA?
A time I felt socially connected to UCLA was during the summer transfer program. That is where I met fellow students that could relate to my experiences.