معرفی
Alex Borgella is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where he also leads the Social Perception Experimentation (SPEx) Lab. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Tufts University (2017), an M.A. from James Madison University, and a B.A. from the University of West Florida. Prior to joining Fort Lewis College in 2019, he served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Bates College.
- Ph.D., Social Psychology, Tufts University, 2017
- M.A., Psychological Sciences, James Madison University, 2012
- B.A., Psychology, University of West Florida, 2010
Dr. Borgella's research centers on social psychological mechanisms of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. His work explores intergroup interactions, implicit bias, within-group racial bias, and stereotype threat, particularly in understudied populations such as Indigenous communities, people with multiple stigmatized identities, and in contexts like combat sports and social media. He investigates how identity-related humor can reduce intergroup anxiety and how generative AI representations affect psychosocial well-being. His research has been published in journals including the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, and Humor: International Journal of Humor Research, and has been featured in NPR, Psychology Today, VICE, and Gizmodo.
His most recent publications show a strong trend in examining subtle forms of bias in dynamic settings—such as UFC refereeing and social media—and in exploring how stereotype threat manifests across diverse identities, including White individuals in rhythmic performance. His 2024 Mamie Phipps Clark Faculty Research Award supports groundbreaking work on text-to-image AI and racial representation.
- 2024 Mamie Phipps Clark Faculty Research Award (APA and Psi Chi)
- Featured Scholar, Fort Lewis College
- Alice Admire Outstanding Teaching Award
- Ginny Hutchins Teaching Award for New Faculty
- Best Educator in Durango
- FLC Achievement Award
Dr. Borgella is a dedicated mentor, supervising numerous undergraduate research projects through the SPEx Lab. Many of his students have presented at national conferences and pursued graduate studies. He teaches core courses such as Research Methods, Social Psychology, and the Senior Research Capstone. He is currently securing funding and mentoring students on projects related to AI, social media bias, and intergroup dynamics. His lab, originally founded at Bates College, is now based at Fort Lewis College and actively recruits undergraduates.
