I want to thank John Stolle-McAllister for his leadership as interim dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences during the 2025 – 26 academic year. Additionally, I want to thank Vice Provost Ana Oskoz and members of the search committee. 

Christia previously served as the director of the Center for Equality and Social Justice and associate chair in the department of psychology at the University of Kentucky. Her administrative work has focused on building inclusive, student-centered systems that promote engagement, belonging, and academic success across diverse disciplines and communities. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and began her career as an assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. 

An accomplished scholar, Christia has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on children's and adolescents' understanding of discrimination, stereotypes, and social identity and the implications of these processes for academic and developmental outcomes. She is the author of three books, including Discrimination in Childhood and Adolescence, and her research spans gender, race and ethnicity, immigration status, and economic inequality. Her work has been supported by federal and foundation funding and is widely cited across psychology and education.

A committed educator and public-facing scholar, Christia is known for translating developmental science to broader audiences. She regularly engages with educators, families, and organizations, is frequently featured in national media, and has served as an expert witness on cases involving discrimination in schools. She is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, president of the Society for the Study of Human Development, and secretary of the Society for Research in Child Development, and has served in editorial leadership roles for several scholarly journals.

Please join me in welcoming Christia to the UMBC community.