Cynthia Willis Esqueda
Cynthia Willis Esqueda received her Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Kansas. She has been a faculty member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Psychology (Social Psychology and Psychology-Law programs) and the Institute for Ethnic Studies (American Indian Studies and Latina/Latino Studies) since 1991. Dr. Esqueda’s research focuses on motivations for and cognitive processes about “race” and ethnic bias, particularly against America’s indigenous populations. Dr. Esqueda and her students examine how ideology determines cognitive and social perceptions of ethnic groups and the meaning of such perceptions for legal and social inequality. Current projects focus on biases against those of Mexican descent in legal decision making, from minor offenses to the death penalty, and even exoneration. Another research focus is on motivations for anti-immigrant attitudes. Dr. Esqueda is a Fellow of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. She is co-chair of American Psychology-Law Society’s Broadening Representation, Inclusion, Diversity, and Global Equity (BRIDGE) Committee. She is an executive editor of the Journal of Social Psychology. She served as Director for Native American Studies for several years. She lives in a dual citizenship family (Mexico and United States).