Terri Vescio’s research seeks to understand the factors that facilitate and temper the expression of sexism, racism, and heterosexism. Within that context, Terri is interested in the interplay between the stereotypic behaviors of powerful people and the consequences that those behaviors have for the emotions, motivation, and performance of low power women, gay men, and people of color. She also studies the role of hegemonic masculinity (as a personal identity and cultural ideology) in the maintenance of the status quo via political preferences, use and acceptance of sexual violence, preferences to dominate women, acceptance of violence against people of color. She is particularly interested in how subtle and hegemonic processes reinforce and maintain the status quo.

Dr. Terri Vescio will be recruiting graduate students to begin in Fall 2023.

Nathaniel Schermerhorn is a dual-degree PhD student in Social Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. His current research examines hegemonic masculinity as a legitimating ideology, hegemonic masculinity's role in political attitudes, and inter-group relationships between gay men and straight men. Nathaniel's work incorporates psychological, feminist, and social theory.

Nathaniel has presented his work with Dr. Vescio at the annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology and their work on masculinity and COVID-19 was recently featured in the New York Times.

Nathaniel's departmental and university service largely focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is also a current member of the Graduate Council and is a member of the Joint Programming and Curriculum Committee.

Originally from Massachusetts, Nathaniel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and worked with Dr. Jennifer Overbeck. He was a middle school English Language Arts teacher in Florence, South Carolina for four years. Nathaniel holds a Master's in Public Administration and a Master's in Social Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University.

Currently Teaching: PSYCH422 (Human Sexualities)

Nathaniel's ResearchGate | Nathaniel's Twitter

Katsumi Yamaguchi-Pedroza is a dual-title PhD student in Social Psychology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Katsumi aims to conduct research that addresses social inequalities and can be used to inform and improve lives of people who belong to historically underrepresented groups. By incorporating feminist theories and methodologies with psychological ones, she studies how intersecting social identities, such as race and gender, affect processes of power and experiences of prejudice. More specifically, Katsumi’s current research explores the unique threat that well-performing women of color present to white men and how sexual violence reinforces and maintains gender and racial disparities.

Katsumi received her B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Gender Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a lab manager at the University of California, Irvine. In her free time, Katsumi enjoys reading, yoga, and trying new recipes!

Katsumi’s Research Gate | Katsumi’s Twitter | Katsumi's Google Scholar

Abigail Loviscky is a Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major. Her fascinations meet at the intersection of psychology, gender studies, and criminology as she is interested in studying masculine narcissism in relation to intimate partner violence perpetrators. She has worked with Dr. Vescio on a variety of masculinity threat studies, including studying the pathway from masculinity threat to increased racist attitudes, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. Abigail has also created a tolerance of intimate partner violence scale which will be the foundation of her future research. She hopes to continue her research passions by entering a social psychology graduate program.