Randi L. Garcia

Randi L. Garcia is an Associate Professor of Psychology and of Statistical & Data Sciences at Smith College, where she has taught since 2016. Her interdisciplinary work bridges social psychology and statistical methodology, with a focus on understanding how status and power dynamics in daily interactions reproduce social inequalities. She teaches courses in both the Psychology Department and the Program in Statistical and Data Sciences, including research methods, psychology of women and gender, and statistical methods for undergraduate research.

Education:

• PhD in Social Psychology, University of Connecticut
• MS in Statistics, University of Connecticut
• BA in Psychology and Women's Studies (Double Major), University of California, Los Angeles

Randi Garcia's research explores interpersonal interactions and relationships among people with different social group identities across various contexts. Her work examines sexual objectification among newly acquainted individuals, racial bias in dyadic and group interactions, and inequality in household labor. Using quantitative methods and dyadic data analysis, she investigates how daily interactions contribute to larger social inequalities. Her methodological expertise includes the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model and other advanced statistical techniques for analyzing relational data.

Analysis of Garcia's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on intersectional approaches to understanding social dynamics. Her work spans social psychology, family studies, and statistical methodology, with particular emphasis on LGBTQ+ families, racial dynamics in interpersonal interactions, and gender inequality. A recurring theme is the application of sophisticated dyadic and group-level statistical models to understand how individual experiences are shaped by relational contexts.

Scientific Awards:

• Sherrerd Prize for Distinguished Teaching, Smith College, 2019
• President's Innovation Challenge, Smith College, 2018-2019
• Kahn Institute short-term project, Smith College, 2018
• SGA Smith College Teaching Award (untenured Faculty), 2018
• Curriculum Enhancement Grant (SDS/MTH 290), Smith Botanic Garden, 2018
• APA Division 49, Small Groups, Dissertation Award Finalist, 2013

Garcia serves as a Methods and Statistics Associate Editor for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and on the editorial board of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. She has advised numerous undergraduate researchers, many of whom have co-authored publications with her. Her work has been supported by various grants including the Curriculum Enhancement Grant from the Smith Botanic Garden. Garcia has developed the dyadr R package for dyadic data analysis, demonstrating her commitment to advancing methodological approaches in social psychology research.

Randi Garcia leads research on sexual objectification, dyadic data analysis, and inequality in the home. She collaborates with colleagues across disciplines, particularly in the areas of LGBTQ+ family studies and racial dynamics. Her work with the dyadr R package has created valuable resources for researchers studying interpersonal relationships. She frequently conducts workshops on dyadic data analysis, including the annual Data Analysis Techniques for Interpersonal Contexts (DATIC) workshop.