Image: We are proud to announce that Dr. Allison L. Skinner, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia, has been awarded the Innovative Teaching Award by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI). This annual award honors creative and effective teaching in areas related to the psychological study of social issues. Dr. Skinner received this recognition for her Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Course, which will be offered again in Spring 2026. The course raises students’ awareness of the systems and structures in society that have both hindered and advantaged members of various social groups throughout history. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own identities and lived experiences, and to consider how these factors shape their opportunities and perspectives, especially in academia and the field of psychology. Beyond her award-winning teaching, Dr. Skinner’s scholarly research examines how systemic forms of oppression are maintained and reinforced through subtle patterns of thought and behavior, and how these systems can be challenged. She investigates the powerful influence of situational cues such as nonverbal behavior and microaggressions on attitudes and perceptions. To explore these questions, she employs both correlational and experimental methods and is a strong advocate for open science principles, which she believes strengthen the rigor, replicability, and impact of psychological research. Dr. Skinner also teaches courses on prejudice, racism, and systemic inequalities, and directs the Attitudes, Biases, and Culture in Togo study abroad program at UGA. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Skinner on this well-deserved honor!
