Hello! My name is Benjamin Graham and I am a community psychologist and associate professor at Cal Poly Humboldt. Prior to coming to Humboldt I worked as a research associate at the National Center for PTSD, Dissemination and Training Division and DePaul University. My path into community psychology began as a clinician and researcher (M.S. Counseling Psychology, UW-Madison) promoting comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to school-based violence prevention in diverse school settings, first as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of Melbourne (Australia), and eventually within the Chicago Public School system and across the State of Illinois. These experiences inspired me to pursue my a doctorate in community psychology (DePaul University), where my research focused on disability inclusion, community-based service learning, sexual and gender minority health, student health and wellness, and psychological sense of community. I have enjoyed getting to know students within my labs here at Humboldt, and am currently working on three main projects, two based within my CAIRNS lab and one as in my role of LGBTQ+ Faculty Fellow. An overarching theme of my work is promoting strong, healthy, responsive communities through grassroots, community-led design.

I view education as a lifelong process, where student learning is derived from each person’s unique set of motivations, ambitions, interests, and cultural background. Four areas I emphasize in my teaching are scientific curiosity, sustained commitment to learning, integration through critical thinking, and learning via novel and innovative pedagogical strategies. Across these domains, I am deeply committed to infusing a multicultural, intersectional lens in how psychological knowledge is understood and applied. I LOVE community engagement, and always try to build and strengthen bridges between the university and the ‘real’ world!

When I think back on my decision to leave a fulfilling job as a licensed clinician and pursue my doctorate, I had hoped that such a big leap might someday allow me the opportunity to meet amazing students and build university-community bridges. Cal Poly Humboldt has become a wonderful home for doing just that.

See Dr. Graham's appointment availablility here.