Teri Kirby, associate professor of psychological sciences at Purdue University, is the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Early Career Award from the International Society for Self and Identity. Presented annually, the award is given to researchers who have made impressive contributions to the understanding of self and identity within the first 10 years of obtaining their doctorate.
Dr. Kirby joined the Purdue faculty in 2022 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor with tenure two years later. She currently directs the Diversity, Identity, & Prejudice Lab. As a scholar, Dr. Kirby leverages theories of self, identity, and acculturation to explore why diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts often fail to obtain their desired goals. Her recent research has focused on diversity ideologies, the implications of shifting diversity rhetoric, cultural appropriation, and the impact of diversity initiatives. Throughout her career, she has authored 38 peer-reviewed publications that have received nearly 3,500 citations.
Dr. Kirby is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in psychology with minors in political science and French. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Washington.