Gili Freedman

Dr. Gili Freedman is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at St. Mary's College of Maryland. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Haverford College (2009) and her Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin (2015). Prior to her current role, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Roanoke College and a Postdoctoral Researcher at Dartmouth College. Her research focuses on two primary areas: (1) the dual nature of social rejection and its psychological impacts, and (2) developing game-based and narrative interventions to combat gender biases in STEM and other contexts.

Her work on rejection explores decision-making processes, perceptions of rejecters, and consequences for both individuals. In bias reduction, she designs interactive interventions using games, virtual reality, and media to challenge stereotypes. Notable projects include VR simulations to reduce gender biases in men and analyzing media portrayals of women in STEM. She teaches courses in Social Psychology, Advanced Social Psychology, and the Psychology of Games for Good.

Her external affiliations include the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Current sabbatical dates: August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025.