Joseph D. Wellman

Joseph D. Wellman is an Associate Professor of Social Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Mississippi, College of Liberal Arts. He joined the faculty in 2019 and was tenured and promoted in 2023. His research examines stigma, health, discrimination, and intergroup relations, with a focus on how identity and system beliefs shape responses to bias. He is the Director of Experimental Training and leads the SHADE Lab (Social Health and Discrimination Experiences Lab).

• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Maine (2012)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Culture, Emotion, and Race, Wesleyan University
• Former Assistant Professor, California State University, San Bernardino

Dr. Wellman's research centers on the psychological impact of stigma, particularly weight-based and racial discrimination. He investigates how group identification, system-legitimizing beliefs, and zero-sum thinking influence well-being and intergroup dynamics. His work spans social and health psychology, applying theoretical models like the rejection-identification model to real-world issues of equity and mental health.

His recent publications (2017–2024) reveal a consistent focus on identity under threat—whether through weight stigma, racial ideology, or gender norms. Articles explore how identifying as 'fat' affects well-being, how zero-sum beliefs shape opposition to social progress, and how masculinity threats drive bias. These works appear in leading journals such as Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Body Image, and Appetite, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with health, identity, and social justice.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow, Society of Experimental Social Psychology (2022)
• Dr. Mike L. Edmonds New Scholar Award, UM College of Liberal Arts (2023)

He has secured NSF ADVANCE grants at both California State University, San Bernardino and the University of Mississippi to promote diversity in academic hiring and promotion. He mentors Ph.D. students in the Experimental Psychology program and teaches courses in social psychology, stigma & health, and advanced quantitative methods. His lab, the SHADE Lab, supports research on discrimination and health disparities.