Elizabeth Canning

Elizabeth Canning is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at Washington State University (WSU), where she leads the BOLD Lab (Build. Opportunity. Learn. Develop.). Her research focuses on creating equitable and inclusive educational environments through social-psychological interventions, with specific emphasis on achievement motivation, social inequality, and organizational behavior.

• Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2016)
• Postdoctoral research at Indiana University’s Mind and Identity in Context Lab (2016-2019)

Dr. Canning’s work investigates how institutional messages about belonging, value, and ability shape student motivation and achievement. She employs controlled experiments, randomized interventions, and longitudinal studies to mitigate disparities in STEM education, particularly for first-generation, minoritized, and stigmatized groups.

Her recent publications highlight the impact of instructor mindset communication on student outcomes, strategies for reducing imposter syndrome, and the role of growth mindset cultures in organizational success. Notably, her 2024 research in CBE-Life Sciences Education demonstrated how growth mindset messaging improves first-generation student performance.

• Editor’s Choice, Science (2014)

Dr. Canning mentors undergraduate RAs (9+ hours/week commitment) and Ph.D. students in the Experimental Psychology program. She will be on sabbatical at the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin during 2025-2026.