Elizabeth Grace Olson

Elizabeth Grace Olson serves as Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Olson's research focuses on LGBTQIA+ psychology, workplace issues affecting sexual and gender minorities, and community climate. Her work examines minority stress, identity concealment in professional settings, and the experiences of transgender individuals. She employs qualitative methods including narrative analysis and mixed-method approaches to explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion manifest in educational and workplace contexts. Her fingerprint analysis shows strong connections to lesbian studies (100%), LGBTQIA+ Psychology (93%), Workplace issues (78%), and Minority Stress Psychology (74%).

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on transgender identity, workplace discrimination, and faculty approaches to diversity education. Olson's research shows increasing attention to creative methodologies like found poetry to explore gender identity, alongside traditional quantitative and mixed-method studies examining the structural factors affecting LGBTQ+ individuals in professional settings. Her work has gained notable attention with some publications picked up by 15 news outlets and referenced in Wikipedia pages.

As Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dr. Olson leads initiatives to foster inclusive environments within the college, drawing on her research expertise to inform institutional practices and policies. Her dual role bridges academic research with practical application in creating supportive climates for LGBTQ+ individuals in academic and professional contexts.