Jennifer J. Ratcliff

Dr. Jennifer J. Ratcliff is a Chancellor's award-winning Professor of Psychology at SUNY Brockport specializing in Social Psychology. She serves as a Faculty Diversity Fellow and has a distinguished career focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Her academic journey includes a PhD in Experimental Social Psychology from Ohio University and a Slifka Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University's JFK School of Government.

Her research program centers on identifying antecedents to prejudice, discrimination, and stigma, particularly examining sexual orientation-based prejudice and the impact of bullying on marginalized individuals. Dr. Ratcliff's work has evolved to include evidence-based interventions for combating prejudice and increasing inclusion in educational settings. Her scholarly contributions span multiple domains including posttraumatic growth following bullying experiences, factors influencing willingness to confront prejudice, and racial biases in juror decision-making.

Dr. Ratcliff's recent publications demonstrate her evolving research trajectory from examining the experience of stigma to developing practical interventions. Her work increasingly focuses on posttraumatic growth among marginalized populations, confronting prejudice in real-world contexts (including during the pandemic), and developing assessment tools for specific populations like students with visual impairments. The interdisciplinary nature of her research bridges social psychology, clinical psychology, educational psychology, and disability studies.

• Chancellor's award for teaching excellence
• Fellow in the Society of Personality and Social Psychology

Dr. Ratcliff has demonstrated exceptional mentorship, with numerous testimonials highlighting her profound impact on students' professional development and academic trajectories. Her service contributions are substantial, having chaired the President's Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (2015-2018) and served on the Professional Development subcommittee (2014-2021). She has also contributed to diversity initiatives through search committees for key positions like the Chief Diversity Officer. Her work extends beyond campus through international study programs in Western Europe and New Zealand focused on intergroup relations.