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Karen L. Suyemoto, PhD, is a professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston in clinical psychology and the transdisciplinary Transnational Cultural and Community Studies graduate program. She teaches doctoral level and undergraduate courses on race, culture, and mental health; psychology and social justice activism; and qualitative methods.

Suyemoto’s scholarship focuses on three interrelated areas: the relations of race and racism, identity, and mental health for people of color, especially Asian Americans; examining experiences and effects of advocacy and resistance against racism for both targets and allies/accomplices; and development and effects of cultural responsiveness and anti-racism in education and psychological practice. 

Current research projects include a two-book project focused on teaching and learning about race, oppression, privilege, and intersectional statuses, and the development of models and measures of resistance, including the Resistance and Empowerment Against Racism measure. Suyemoto is the past-president of the Asian American Psychological Association and served as the AAPA delegate to the APA Council of Representatives, where she collaborated with other Ethnic Minority Psychological Association representatives to establish and lead the Council Diversity Workgroup. She is currently the chair of the APA Task Force developing the new Guidelines for Race and Ethnicity in Psychology.

She is the recipient of the Liem award for Outstanding Doctoral Mentoring and the AAPA’s Distinguished Contributions Award, and was recognized as a White House Champion of Change: Asian American Pacific Islander Women under the Obama administration. She provides consultation and training locally and nationally on diversity and social justice within psychology training and community practice organizations, culturally and racially responsive therapy and student services, and social justice education. More information can be found on her website.