Nicole Legate

Nicole Legate is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology, affiliated with the Lewis College of Science and Letters. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rochester (2014) and a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA (2007). Her research focuses on how social environments influence health outcomes for stigmatized groups, particularly LGBTQ+ communities. Central themes include autonomy-supportive communication, prejudice reduction, and the impact of disclosure/concealment on mental/physical health.

Her work explores mechanisms like parental autonomy support buffering minority stress, the role of social support in coming-out processes, and strategies to motivate inclusion in workplaces (e.g., police forces). Recent studies address pandemic-era social distancing compliance, leveraging self-determination theory to enhance public health messaging. Legate also maintains a private clinical psychology practice and is an active media commentator on psychology ethics and societal issues.

Publications highlight cross-cultural experiments on behavior change during crises, anti-bias training efficacy, and longitudinal studies on LGBTQ+ health. Her DEI-focused research bridges motivational science and organizational practices, emphasizing evidence-based strategies for reducing prejudice. Key contributions include developing classification systems for sexual orientation and examining partnership dynamics’ effects on health outcomes in marginalized populations.