Diverse Speaker Series
A diversity of perspectives is invaluable. Every semester, DPOGS invites a PhD-holding professional in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field to speak about their research and their journey as diverse individuals in our fields. All are welcome to attend speaker series events.
Past Speakers
Dr. Novell E. Tani
Assistant Professor of Psychology at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University
"Navigating the Terrains of Academia: Black Male Scholastic Development in Gray Spaces" (Spring 2020)
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Dr. Novell Tani earned his bachelor’s in psychology from Florida A&M University (FAMU), his master’s degrees in Applied Social Sciences from FAMU (emphasis in History) and Developmental Psychology from FSU, and his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from FSU. A product of a single mother in a low socio-economic household, Dr. Tani has dedicated his research efforts to examine how African-American males face adversities from social and cultural influences. His studies examine teachers’ perceptions of students from varying demographic backgrounds and the possible effects of perception on students’ academic development.
Dr. Nicole Patton Terry
Olive & Manuel Bordas Professor of Education in the School of Teacher Education & Associate Director of the Florida Center for Reading Research at the Florida State University
"Addressing Reading Through
Research and Partnership"
(Fall 2019)
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In this lecture, we discussed factors associated with why so many African American children are struggling with reading, how research on language differences may inform approaches to address their reading difficulties, and how cross-sector, interdisciplinary partnerships may support improved outcomes in schools.
Dr. Billy R. Close
Florida State University Assistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice
"Bridging the Gaps Between Diversity and Inclusion: Personal, Professional, and Pedagogical Insights"
(Fall 2020)
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Dr. Billy Close is currently an Assistant Professor and Director of Service-Learning and Mentoring in the College of Criminology & Criminal Justice at the Florida State University. Dr. Close is also President, Paradigm Consultants & Associates, Inc., and Founder & Executive Director of Beyond the Athlete®, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to harnessing the powers of faith, family, sport, service learning, and mentoring for the educational, character, and transitional life-skill development among the youth & young adults.
Dr. Sarah Nicole Forrester
Assistant Professor at UMass Medical School (Population and Quantitative Health Sciences Dept., Division of Epidemiology)
"From OCD to Alzheimer’s: My Journey to Research in Health Equity and Aging"
(upcoming: Fall 2021)
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​Dr. Forrester has a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in Psychology and a PhD in Psychiatric Epidemiology. Her doctoral work focused on racial differences in cognitive aging as a function of allostatic load and health behaviors. She is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences. Her research is in two primary focus areas – 1. understanding and preventing health inequities to improve the health of Black populations; and 2. how stress and biology interact to create health inequities. Dr. Forrester is particularly interested in inequitable social determinants of health due to structural inequalities and systemic racism affect cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and overall health in later life. Recently, Dr. Forrester has extended her health equity work to increasing the participation of persons from historically excluded group in clinical research.