Noted scholar's talk to focus on black identity
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A leading theorist and researcher in the psychology and identity development of various cultural minorities will speak at Western Michigan University Thursday, April 9.
Dr. William E. Cross Jr., a professor of both higher education and counseling psychology at the University of Denver, will present "Exploring the Everyday Functions and Enactment of Black Identity in Daily Life" at 6 p.m. in Room 1910 Sangren Hall.
"His most noted contribution to the field was the development of the Nigresence Theory in 1971, distinguishing the different stages of a person's life as they explore their identity as it relates to their race and the race of others around them," says Dr. Patrick H. Munley, WMU professor and chair of counselor education and counseling psychology, whose department is sponsoring the Cross visit.
"Cross's Nigresence Theory on identity development has been adapted to apply to both racial and social minority groups. A follow up to the 1971 model was the 1991 publication of his book, 'Shades of Black,' which is considered a classic in the field of racial identity. His presentation should be of broad interest within the University and Kalamazoo communities."
About William Cross
Over the course of 40 years of theorizing and research, Cross has become a major figure in the discourse on social movement identity change—Nigrescence Theory—especially as it applies to the African-American experience. His work has inspired identity discourses for other social identity groups, including those who are disabled, feminist, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. His more recent work has focused on the way social identity is performed or enacted in everyday life.
Cross was heavily involved with the social movements of the 1960s and 1970s. He earned his degrees in psychology—a bachelor's degree from the University of Denver and a doctoral degree from Princeton University, where focused on African-American Studies, which has been at the heart of his research and career for the past four decades.
In addition to his current position at the University of Denver, Cross is a professor emeritus of social psychology at the Graduate Center City University of New York. He also has taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Cornell University; Penn State University; and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Cross is active in the American Psychological Association and has received several honors and awards. They include being named a Distinguished Psychologist by the Association of Black Psychologists in 2001 and having the William E. Cross Jr. Lectures Series created as part of the Annual Conference on Cross-cultural Issues in Counseling and Education sponsored by Georgia Southern State University.
For more information, contact Dr. Beverly Vandiver, WMU professor of counselor education and counseling psychology, at beverly.vandiver@wmich.edu or (269) 387-0709.