Social Psychology Network

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Dr. Denise M. Driscoll

Dr. Denise M. Driscoll

  • SPN Mentor

Dr. Driscoll is currently the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for an NSF Engineering Research Center in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University called CISTAR, which stand for Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology at Purdue, a Purdue Faculty Affiliate for the Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Management in The Krannert School of Management, as well as the founder and president of Diversity Competency LLC, a consulting company started in 2008.

Dr. Driscoll's initial background was in experimental social psychology with an emphasis on social cognition and forming person impressions. As an Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences at Purdue (1991 to 1999), she taught and conducted research on person impressions, attitude accessibility, persuasion, stereotyping, prejudice, nonverbal communication, sexual harassment, and intergroup relations.

After a hiatus as a visiting scholar at the University of Queensland to study diversity initiatives in Australia, Dr. Driscoll returned to Purdue as the Diversity Resource Specialist for the Vice President for Human Relations. From 2000-2007, she 1) Advised colleges, schools, and units about diversity issues and programs, 2) Played a major role in two assessments of Purdue's diversity and work-life climate, 3) Wrote, assessed, and consulted on diversity-related National Science Foundation grants, and 4) Developed, facilitated, and assessed diversity training workshops and programs across the Purdue campus as well as in the local community.

In 2008, she combined her experiences as an academic (with its focus on research and theory) with her experiences as an administrator (with its focus on applying research and theory to effect positive change in the workplace) and founded Diversity Competency LLC to help companies improve their diversity competency. Please see diversitycompetency.com if interested in Dr. Driscoll's consulting business.

Dr. Driscoll re-joined the faculty at Purdue as a Continuous Lecturer in The Krannert School of Management from 2015 to 2019. She studied: (1) The types of managerial communication practices that create, and sustain, highly-effective diverse teams and (2) The types of educational and training methods that increase the global dexterity of managers. Dr. Driscoll taught several courses to MBA students, including Managerial Communication Skills, Intercultural Communication and Management, Mentoring and Socialization, and Managerial Business Writing.

In August of 2019, Dr. Driscoll joined "CISTAR" (a center with four other universities--Northwestern University, University of New Mexico, University of Notre Dame, and University of Texas at Austin--and many oil-n-gas company partners) to create an inclusive center where diverse learners, researchers, and teachers are ready to participate and lead in a global energy economy.

Primary Interests:

  • Applied Social Psychology
  • Attitudes and Beliefs
  • Communication, Language
  • Culture and Ethnicity
  • Gender Psychology
  • Intergroup Relations
  • Nonverbal Behavior
  • Person Perception
  • Persuasion, Social Influence
  • Prejudice and Stereotyping
  • Research Methods, Assessment
  • Social Cognition

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Journal Articles:

Other Publications:

  • Driscoll, D. (2021). CISTAR summer program increases diversity and inclusion in engineering. CISTAR Has a summer program like no other--CISTAR, NSBE SEEK partner to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. Purdue University ChE Newsletter, Spring 2021. Charles D. Davidson School of Chemical Engineering.
  • Driscoll, D., & Drummond Oakes, M. (2021). Preparing STEM graduate student to be effective and inclusive virtual mentors. Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching, 5, Special Issue 14.
  • Driscoll, D., & Everett, K. (2022, August). The value of assessing, reporting, and discussing culture of inclusion. Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Driscoll, D. M. (2022, December). A survey instrument to explore mentor-mentee perceptions of their mentoring experience. Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching, 6, Special Issue 15.
  • Driscoll, D. M. (2016 release). “Diversity, Prejudice, & Stereotypes.” Sage Videos in Practice, Sage Publishers (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/psychology-video).
  • Driscoll, D. M. (2014). Stereotype threat. An online module for a certificate program for faculty and administrators at colleges/schools of veterinary medicine. Center of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine.
  • Driscoll, D. M. (2004). Mentoring and diversity: A handbook for faculty mentoring LSAMP Indiana students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
  • Driscoll, D. M., & Drummond Oakes, M. (2021). Creating a diverse next generation of technically- and community-minded STEM professionals. Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. 10.18260/1-2–36866
  • Driscoll, D. M., & Koch, A. K. (2003, May). National Science Foundation Awards Indiana a Five-Year Louise Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Grant: How Academic Advisors at Participating Universities Can Be a Part of The Effort. Indiana Academic Advising Network Newsletter, Advising Update.
  • Driscoll, D. M., Kokini, K., Katehi, L. P. B., Wright, J. R., & Percifield, C. P. (2004). A new paradigm for diversity in engineering. Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition.
  • Driscoll, D. M., Zawojewski, J. S., & Stahura, J. (2008). Learning from engineering students’ reactions to small group laboratories. In J. S. Zawojewski, H. Diefes-Dux, and K. Bowman (Eds.), Models and modeling in Engineering Education: Designing experiences for all students. Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
  • Fazio, R. H., Blascovich, J., & Driscoll, D. M. (2008). On the functional value of attitudes: The influence of accessible attitudes on the ease and duality of decision making (pp. 283-298). In R. H. Fazio, & R. E. Petty (Eds.), Attitudes: Their structure, function, and consequences. New York: Psychology Press.
  • Hamilton, D. L., Driscoll, D. M., & Stroessner, S. J. (1991). Stereotypes and prejudice. In R. Dulbecco (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human Biology (Vol. 7, pp. 233-241). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
  • Hamilton, D. L., Stroessner, S. J., & Driscoll, D. M. (1994). Social cognition and the study of stereotyping. In P. G. Devine, D. L. Hamilton, & T. M. Ostrom (Eds.), Social cognition: Contributions to classic issues in social psychology. New York: Springer-Verlag.

Courses Taught:

  • Intercultural Communication and Management, MGMT 69000
  • Krannert Leadership Development Program, MGMT 390
  • Managerial Business Writing, MGMT 69000
  • Managerial Communication Skills, MGMT 69200
  • Mentoring and Socialization, OBHR 560

Dr. Denise M. Driscoll
Hall for Discovery and Learning Research (DLR)
207 S. Martin Jischke Drive
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
United States of America

  • Work: (765) 494-4835
  • Mobile: (765) 427-3482
  • Fax: (765) 494-4900
  • Skype Name: Denise.M.Driscoll

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