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.
Vice Dean for Culture & Community Success
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!
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.