Member-At-Large 2022-2024
Karen John, PhD, MS, BS
My name is Dr. Karen John. I am a native New Yorker, born in the Bronx with a deepened sense of family whose roots run deeply across this continent, touching down in the Caribbean, and extending to the shores of Africa, an existence I have yet to explore. Acceptance was modeled for me early on by my great and grandparents despite their clouded journey of non-acceptance. Regardless, my ancestors instilled their beliefs of equality and openness giving me the voice that I now use today. Thus, from a shy and reserved, little girl emerged a voice of humanism. Having been an active second year member of The Society, I began my membership as a student. Upon graduating, I renewed my membership as a professional. Shortly thereafter, I became active members of both the JEDI Committee and most recently the Race/Ethnicity Special Interest Group (SIG). I am an educator, developmental psychology researcher, and humanitarian. My work alongside of education continues to focus on contextualizing the consequences of marginalization and the resulting disparities. My most recent research was rooted within the LGBTQA+ communities with its primary focus being the lesbian population with resiliency and intimacy being primary to my study. Further interests include race, gender, and sexuality in terms of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and how that is reflected in society by means of policies and politics. My humanitarian efforts extend beyond the classroom and into the realm of social media in the form of a podcast which discusses such policies and politics as it relates to the past, the present, and the impending consequences of not addressing the latter to create both a humane and inclusive future. The idea being our duty as humans, is to therefore leave this world in a better state than which we found it. It is my intension to do my part to create a portion of the blueprint necessary for achieving this not just for me because I may not experience it, but for all those who come after me.