Vetta Sanders Thompson

Vetta Sanders Thompson is the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Diversity at the Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis. She serves as Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, co-director of the Center for Community Health Partnership and Research, and is affiliated with the Siteman Cancer Center and the Department of African and African-American Studies. A licensed clinical psychologist, she teaches courses on human diversity, health disparities, and mental health.

• Education: PhD in Psychology from Duke University

Her research focuses on improving health outcomes for African-American communities through education and community action, addressing systemic barriers like discrimination and unequal access to services. She leads initiatives promoting cancer screening and develops strategies to combat modern systemic inequities such as discriminatory rental market practices.

Professional leadership includes past roles as Chair of the State Committee of Psychologists and President of the Missouri Psychological Association. She has received honors from St. Louis community stakeholders and academic peers.