Dr. Sarah S. M. Townsend studies the psychological foundations of inequality. Her research reveals the dysfunctional behaviors and physiological costs that can result when individuals’ cultural norms collide with the dominant cultural norms of organizations. She examines how these“cultural divides” are often a hidden source of inequality, but how they can be used to lessen opportunity gaps and fuel greater cross-group understanding. Dr. Townsend uses a multi-method approach, measuring cardiovascular and hormonal responses along with how people think, feel, and act.
Dr. Townsend is an associate editor for Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin and an editorial board member for both Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Academy of Management Discoveries. She has also been featured on Poets and Quants as "Professor of the Week" and was named a "Rising Star" by the Association of Psychological Science. Dr. Townsend's research has been published in numerous scholarly outlets and she has been an invited speaker at numerous events and conferences hosted by the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, the Academy of Management, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for the Science of Motivation. Further, her research has been covered by various media outlets, including The Atlantic, Huffington Post, New York Magazine, and The Washington Post.
Interim Assistant Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Associate Professor of Management and Organization
University of Southern California Marshall School of Business
News & Updates
Fall 2022
SPSP Fellow
Congratulations to Dr. Townsend on her acceptance as a Fellow within the Society for Personality and Social Psychology!
October 2021
Paper Accepted for Publication
Dr. Townsend's paper with Erika Hall and James Carter entitled "What’s in a Name? The Hidden Historical
Ideologies Embedded in the Black and African American Racial Labels" has been published in Psychological Science.
May 2021
Congratulations to Graduating RAs!
Congratulations to our graduating undergraduate research assistants Lucy Sun and Ian Sotomayor! Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication and for making CDP lab fun!
December 2020
Paper Accepted for Publication
Dr. Townsend's paper with Nicole Stephens and MarYam Hamedani entitled "Difference-education improves first-generation students’ grades throughout college and increases comfort with social group difference" is now in press at Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
March 2022
New Paper Published!
Dr. Townsend's paper with Rebecca Carey, Nicole Stephens, and MarYam Hamedani entitled "Is diversity enough? Cross-race and cross-class interactions in college occur less often than expected, but benefit members of lower-status groups when they occur" has been published in JPSP.
August 2021
Bye Dr. Truong - We'll miss you!
Mindy successfully defended her dissertation and is off to Kellogg School of Management where she will be a Social Impact Postdoctoral Scholar. Congratulations Dr. Truong!
January 2021
Interim Assistant Vice Dean
Dr. Townsend has been appointed as the interim Assistant Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Marshall. She is thrilled to take on this leadership role and work with Vice Dean Rindova to continue and build on Marshall's mission.
October 2020
PhD Teaching Award
Graduate student Mindy Truong won the 2020 Marshall PhD Teaching Award for outstanding teaching of BUAD 304 - Organizational Behavior and Leadership this summer. Mindy's class had among the highest ever enrollment for a summer section of 304!