Jazmin Brown-Iannuzzi, Ph.D. is a graduate of our Social Psychology program in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. She is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia.
As an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology, Jazmin teaches graduate and undergraduate students, dedicates herself to service at the departmental and university levels, and conducts research within her laboratory. Her research seeks to understand why social group disparities may persist, and in some cases grow. In order to address this question, Jazmin uses her training in social psychology to investigate the psychological mechanisms which perpetuate group-based inequalities and the consequences of these inequalities.
Jazmin graduated with her Ph.D. in 2015 from the Social Psychology Program and her graduate training at Carolina successfully prepared her for career in academia. “The psychology department at UNC is truly wonderful. My advisor, Dr. Keith Payne, taught us the importance of using methodologically rigorous approaches to investigate real-world phenomena,” she shares. “In addition, the Social faculty modeled a scientific process of continually learning from the data and from each other. The strong bonds between faculty created a supportive atmosphere that allowed the graduate students to thrive. This culture of learning and collaboration, and the connections made in graduate school have prepared me for my current position.”
In addition to receiving a great foundation for her role as an Assistant Professor, Jazmin enjoyed the community here in Davie Hall and at Carolina. She says, “What I loved best about my time at UNC was that every situation was a learning opportunity. The faculty are incredibly accomplished and were always willing to take time for students. They allowed us, as graduate students, to see the scientific process from the ground up. In addition, the other graduate students and undergraduates are incredibly smart and come from a variety of different backgrounds, which allowed for a diverse and varied perspective. Further, the strong supportive atmosphere allowed us students to thrive.”
If you are considering Ph.D. programs, Jazmin advises: “If you love asking questions, learning, and data, then a Ph.D. is a great option. It is pretty amazing to have a job where I am continually learning!”
Our Meet an Alum series spotlights alumni from our six doctoral programs in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, including Behavioral & Integrative Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Quantitative Psychology, and Social Psychology.
Graduates from our Department are part of an extraordinary roster of alumni. We’re proud of our alumni and their accomplishments as knowledgeable leaders in their fields. Become inspired by the possibilities and meet more of our alumni online!