SPSSI 2026 Conference Co-chair

Dr. Yara Mekawi is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville, a licensed clinical psychologist, and director of the Challenging Ongoing Legacies Of Racism (COLOR) Lab. She completed her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago and her Ph.D. in Clinical and Community Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Emory University School of Medicine.

Dr. Mekawi’s scholarship examines racism through the integrated lenses of affect, cognition, and mental health. Using interdisciplinary and multi-method approaches, she pursues three main lines of inquiry: (a) What are the cognitive and affective mechanisms through which race-related stress is associated with psychopathology in racially marginalized groups? (b) What are the cognitive and affective factors that maintain racially-prejudiced behavior and attitudes among White individuals? and (c) What are the most effective strategies to reduce racial prejudice and ameliorate its effects on the mental health of individuals from racially marginalized groups? She is the principal investigator of an active NIMH R15 grant focused on race-related stress, attention bias, and culturally informed mindfulness interventions.

Across her research, teaching, and mentoring, Dr. Mekawi is deeply committed to advancing equity within psychology. She is also a co-founder of the Dialectical Engagement in Anti-Racism (DEAR) Project, which provides structured, evidence-informed anti-racism training for White allies and academic units.

Dr. Mekawi is honored to serve as Co-Chair for the 2026 SPSSI Conference and grateful for the opportunity to play a role in shaping a program grounded in social impact, scientific rigor, and community engagement.