Drexler James

Drexler James is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and an affiliate faculty member of the Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center. His research focuses on the social and psychological determinants of health among minoritized groups, particularly African American adults and men of color who have sex with men. He also examines the health consequences of biological race essentialism, using intersectionality as a framework to understand health inequities.

James holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Social & Personality Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a minor in Community Health Research. His specialties include racism and health, psychological essentialism, and internalized oppression.

As the primary investigator of the Health, Intersectionality, Essentialism, & Stigma (HIES) Research Team, he investigates how stigma operates dynamically across perceivers and targets to reinforce health disparities. Recent work explores barriers to healthcare access, internalized racism’s mental health impacts, and the socio-cultural implications of racialized stereotypes.

His academic contributions span over 20 peer-reviewed articles addressing race-related health disparities, internalized oppression, and the psychological impacts of systemic racism. While no formal awards are listed, his work demonstrates significant engagement with marginalized communities’ health challenges.