As part of our ongoing commitment to learning about and furthering anti-racism and social justice initiatives and action, we were joined at our September 2020 Membership Meeting by Dr. Margo Jackson. Dr Jackson is Chair of the Division of Psychological and Educational Services in the Graduate School of Education and Director of Training of Counseling Psychology at Fordham University.

Dr. Jackson explored and led us in a conversation about hidden bias, how we can recognize it, and how we can learn together while we work for change.

Download and view Dr. Jackson's PowerPoint presentation here.

More from Dr. Jackson:

Hidden Bias: Learning Together and Making Change

A presentation by and conversation with Margo Jackson [about Margo Jackson, PhD]

We all have hidden biases – not only potential blind spots to pervasive stereotypes and systemic injustice influences but also, often unrecognized, we have unique and shared personal strengths and aptitudes for connecting and working to advocate for constructive change. 

Dr. Jackson will provide a brief overview of research that helps explain why we have hidden biases and, particularly in the current political and health contexts, she will share some resources on how to engage in an ongoing process to develop critical consciousness and promote needed change.

As a lifelong learner herself, Professor Jackson continues to do this needed work, both personally and professionally. Personally, in an interracial marriage with the love of her life, her husband of 40 years, they have raised two biracial daughters in both a culturally diverse community in California and in a predominantly rural and White community in upstate NY, and she has had many family members serving as police, including her father.

Professionally, at Fordham University-Lincoln Center Campus, her research, teaching, and service are grounded in social justice advocacy and focus on methods to assess and constructively address hidden biases and strengths, career development across the lifespan, and ethical training in multicultural counseling and psychology. 

"We are stronger together in actively working to engage our elected officials 'to ensure that the concerns, needs and interests of our community are heard and represented' (DID Mission). The invaluable political activism work of DID may be further empowered by learning together about hidden biases and persistently taking action to refocus and center attention on constructively addressing racial disparities and social justice advocacy."