People

Deborah Wu is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, in the Social Psychology program. She directs the Identity Development, Emotions, and Attitudes (IDEA) Lab, which examines how social identities and emotions shape our experiences, attitudes and behaviors. More specifically, she investigates the antecedents and consequences of stereotyping and prejudice, with the ultimate goal of creating interventions to improve intergroup attitudes. Her work utilizes multiple methods, including longitudinal, experimental and psychophysiological approaches. 

Dr. Wu received her BA from Northwestern University, her MS and PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and was a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University. She joined ASU in January 2025, after being an assistant professor at Stonehill College. 

Outside of research, she enjoys watching Broadway musicals, playing piano, and hanging out with her cat, Mochi.

Link to my CV

Diana Than is a 2nd year doctoral student in the Social Psychology program. Her main interests are how social identities and sociopolitical contexts shape emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, particularly among marginalized communities. Diana received her BA from Cal State Long Beach in Psychology, with a minor in Political Science. In her free time, Diana enjoys thrifting, going to concerts, and tending to her collection of plants.  

Zoe Reep, LMSW, is a doctoral student in the ASU school of social work studying outdoor-based mental and behavioral healthcare interventions. In the IDEA lab, she is leading a scoping review on the psychosocial factors, including racism/discrimination, stereotypes, cultural differences, and gender roles, influencing outdoor engagement relevant to racial and ethnic minorities living in the United States. Zoe has a master's in social work from Boston College and a bachelor's in science in mathematics and psychology from Michigan Technological University. In her free time, you can find Zoe sewing bucket hats, pampering her spoiled dog Murphy, exploring the outdoors, or eating Otter Pops (yum).

Tori Ai-Ting Bridgford is a fourth year undergraduate student at ASU. They are majoring in Communications with a minor in Gender Studies. Tori is drawn to research that investigates how discrimination creates barriers to belonging. Alongside school, Tori enjoys reading, creating abstract fiber art, spoken word poetry, and multimedia paintings. 

Taliah Brewer is a junior at ASU pursuing an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Education. Her research interests center around development, stereotyping, and STEM education. Specifically, she would like to examine how these areas influence how individuals perceive the world around them, and how they interpret new knowledge. 

Jordan Clizbe is a recent ASU graduate, majoring in psychology with a minor in English literature. In research, he is mainly interested in developmental psychology, as well as how experiences impact behavior and why people make specific decisions. Jordan's hobbies include lifting weights, playing basketball and thrifting or visiting bookstores. 

Erin Cosgrove is in her second year of the ASU Master's in General Psychology Program. Her interests center on how cognitive processes interact with experience, emotional expression, and personality, as well as the effects of experience-dependent neuroplasticity. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, pickleball, and stargazing.  

Mary Deng is a junior in the Department of Psychology. Her primary interests lie in the "why" behind how people interact with the world and how their development and environment affects their view of the world around them. In her free time, Mary loves to read, paint, and watch movies and shows.

Destiny Gutierrez is a recent ASU graduate, majoring in Psychology with a certificate in Cross-Sector Leadership. Destiny's research interests lie in stereotyping and its impact on minority groups, specifically within BIPOC communities and how they intersect with race, identity, and behavior. Outside of school, she enjoys doing just about anything creative, like writing, painting, drawing, or catching up on her eternal 'to be read' list. 

Quynh Le is currently a senior undergraduate student at ASU who is majoring in Psychology. She is interested in human rights and social justice and how the related policies impact marginalized communities. Quynh's hobbies include watching movies, painting, crafting, and reading (current favorite book is Yellowface by R.F. Kuang).

Merrick Tipton is a junior psychology major at ASU. His work and interests have focused on stereotyping, specifically how our identity-based perceptions of others color our social interactions. He plans to pursue a PhD and a career in psychology research, hoping to one day contribute something lasting to the field. In his free time, you can find him adoring his cat and struggling to understand Linux.  

Mochi Wu Syropoulos is a 7-year-old calico kitty from Chicago. She enjoys meowing for food and treats, chirping at birds, sunbathing, and sleeping on any soft surface she can find.