Glenn Adams

Glenn Adams is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kansas and currently serves as Interim Director of the Kansas African Studies Center. His academic career bridges cultural psychology, African studies, and decolonial theory, with extensive field research in Ghana informing his critique of coloniality in psychological science.

Education:

• B.A. in Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
• Ph.D. in Social Psychology, Stanford University

Research Focus: Adams' work centers on Cultural Psychology and Historical Consciousness, critically examining Sociocultural Foundations of Mind/Ignorance and Perception of Racism. He develops decolonial models for human development that promote sustainable well-being, particularly in African contexts. His scholarship challenges hegemonic psychology through Truth and Reconciliation frameworks and Cultural-Psychological Foundations of Relationship, emphasizing ecological and relational approaches to liberation.

Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal intense focus on decolonizing psychological science, with recurring themes of structural racism in environmental contexts, well-being conceptions in Ghana, and coloniality of knowledge. His work consistently integrates Cultural Psychology with Critical Race Theory and Decolonial Studies, addressing topics from parental care ecologies to pandemic responses while advocating for epistemic justice in methodology and theory.

Academic Leadership: Beyond core faculty duties, Adams shapes interdisciplinary discourse as Interim Director of the Kansas African Studies Center. His teaching portfolio spans Cultural, Ecological, and Social Psychology with dedicated courses on Oppression and Liberation, African Studies, and Global Perspectives, directly challenging colorblind racism in standard pedagogy.

Research Environment: Adams contributes to the Department of Psychology's research ecosystem through engagement with departmental labs and the Kansas African Studies Center, fostering transnational collaborations that center African knowledge systems in psychological science.