Diana J Leonard

Diana J. Leonard is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Department Chair at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She holds a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2012) and a BA in Psychology from Northwestern University (2004). Her research focuses on social and political psychology, particularly intergroup communication, racial passing, and role-playing games (e.g., larp) as tools for understanding group dynamics.

Her work examines how emotions shape intergroup apology, perceptions of victimization, and reactions to group disadvantage. She also investigates moral judgments of racial passing and applies psychological frameworks to larp communities. Professor Leonard teaches courses including Social Psychology, Research Methods, and Virtual Identities. She has received awards such as the Kris Williams Impact Award for her contributions to diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Her research has been published in journals like Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and International Journal of Role-playing. She directs the ESIP Lab, studying emotions and social identity in psychology, and collaborates on projects funded by grants from the John S. Rogers Science Research Program and the Miller Foundation.