Dr. Michelle Harris

Areas of Specialization: social determinants of health, racial discrimination, indigenous identity, Black women’s social-emotional well-being

Michelle Harris’ scholarly writings have focused on several areas including acculturation and stress among immigrant Americans, how racial discrimination affects the mental health and well-being of Blacks in the United States, and the effects of sociodemographic factors and stress on the mental health of Jamaican adults. She has also published in the area of critical race theory. Dr. Harris envisioned and convened the first meeting of the Working Group on Emergent Identities (2009) when her research interest shifted to issues of identity construction and performance among Indigenous Peoples around the world.

Her co-edited volume, The Politics of Identity: Emergent Indigeneity (Sydney University Press, 2013) resulted from those efforts.  Her most recent book (with Sherrill Sellers, Orly Clerge and Frederick Gooding, Jr.), Stories From the Front of the Room (Rowman and Littlefield, 2017) addresses how higher education faculty of color overcome challenges and thrive in the academy.  She continues to write about social and emotional responses to race-related discrimination and issues related to indigeneity, and Indigenous peoples around the world.