Upcoming Events
- Alana will be presenting at the SPSSI–EASP Joint Conference on Linking Collective Memory and Collective Action, held July 9–11 in Bielefeld, Germany.
News
Alana Smutz Speaks at Northwestern’s Social Psychology Brown Bag
Posted on May 12, 2025
We’re excited to share that Alana Smutz, our third-year graduate student, presented her research at the Northwestern Social Psychology Brown Bag series on May 9th.
Her talk, titled “As our ancestors have always done: Indigenous temporality and affect as motivators of environmental collective action,” explores how group-level emotions like collective angst and collective hope shape Indigenous Peoples’ engagement in environmental justice movements. Alana’s research highlights the emotional complexity of resistance—showing that while Indigenous communities are understandably anxious about threats to cultural continuity, they also draw strength and hope from ancestral resilience to motivate environmental action for the future.
We’re incredibly proud of Alana’s work and look forward to seeing the impact of her insights on Indigenous studies.
Congratulations, Alana!
Celebrating Our Recent Graduates: Dr. Kate Morman and Dr. Imani Burris
Posted on May 8, 2025
We’re delighted to share that Dr. Stephanie Fryberg had the honor of hooding our recent graduates, Dr. Kate Morman and Dr. Imani Burris, at the University of Michigan’s commencement ceremony on May 4 in Ann Arbor.
To celebrate this special milestone, Dr. Fryberg gifted each graduate a meaningful Eighth Generation blanket—Native-designed and rooted in Indigenous values—as a tribute to their accomplishments.
Congratulations, Dr. Morman and Dr. Burris! We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see what’s ahead in your journeys.
Congratulations to Prachi on Her New Role and AERA Presentation!
Posted on April 29, 2025
We’re thrilled to share that Prachi, our dedicated research assistant, has accepted a new position in the Sleep, Affect, Neuroscience, and Development Lab at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Western Psychiatric Institute.
In addition, she recently presented her work at the 2025 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, held April 23–27 in Denver, Colorado.
Congratulations, Prachi! We’re so proud of you and excited to see all that you’ll accomplish next.
Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) Symposium Event!
Posted on April 25, 2025
We’re proud to share that our Research Project Coordinator, Jordyn, recently presented her research at the CNAIR Research Symposium at Northwestern University. Her poster, titled “How Shifts in Social Networks Shape Native Young Adults’ Identity and Social Marginalization Outcomes,” offers an important look into how evolving social connections influence identity formation and experiences of marginalization among Native youth.
Jordyn was also featured in Evanston news alongside the RISE Center. Click here for the article!
Congratulations to Drs. Morman, Wang, Brady, and Fryberg on Their New Publication!
Posted on April 5, 2025
We are excited to announce that Drs. Kate Morman, Cong Wang, Laura Brady, and Stephanie Fryberg have published a paper titled “Individual and Contextual Morality: How Educators in Oppositional and Permissive Communities Use Culturally Responsive Practices” in Behavioral Sciences.
This study, which surveyed over 1,000 K-12 teachers across the United States, explores how individual beliefs and the moral context of the communities in which educators work influence their use of culturally responsive teaching practices. By examining the intersection of individual and contextual moral frameworks toward diversity, this research provides valuable insights into how these factors shape professional behavior in educational settings.
Congratulations to the team on this important contribution to the field!
Click here for the article!
Social Psychology Brown Bag Series: Dr. Julisa Lopez on Indigenous Climate Justice and Collective Action
Posted on October 28, 2024
Dr. Julisa Lopez is a Post-Doc from University of California, Santa Cruz as well as an alumni with our lab and she was the first speaker to kick off the Social Psychology brown bag series here at Northwestern University!
RISE & Culture Collab Lab Hosted An Informational Session for Prospective Students!
Posted on October 4, 2024
We hosted our first event in the lab with a few students interested in working with us on October 3rd, 2024! It was a great opportunity to discuss what RISE and Culture Collab are all about, and if you missed the event and are interested you can contact either Solo Milner jsolomil@northwestern.edu or Jordyn Begay jordyn.begay@northwestern.edu for more information!