Christopher K. Marshburn

Christopher K. Marshburn is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, where he directs the Broaching Race in Interpersonal, Dyadic, and Group Exchanges (BRIDGE) Lab. Affiliated with the Center for Equity and Social Justice, African American and Africana Studies programs, Marshburn served as Scholar-in-Residence for UK's Martin Luther King Center (2019-2020). His research examines inter- and intra-personal factors influencing how people understand, perpetuate, and cope with racism.

Marshburn's program specifically investigates communication dynamics about racism in same-race (Black/Black) and cross-race (Black/non-Black) contexts, examining psychological outcomes for Black individuals. Complementary research explores how White individuals anticipate and prepare for discussions about racism with Black counterparts. He earned his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from University of California, Irvine (2016) where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, following a B.A. in Psychology from Randolph-Macon College.

His publication record demonstrates sustained focus on racial dynamics across multiple contexts: educational settings through studies of Black college students; workplaces via investigations of discrimination and employee well-being; and broader social systems through critical analyses of diversity initiatives and racial perception. Methodologically, Marshburn employs mixed methods including scale development, experimental designs, and qualitative approaches to examine racialized experiences.