Sonnette Bascoe

Senior Advisor to President for University Culture
Associate Professor of Psychology

Sonnette Bascoe Headshot

Profile

Dr. Sonnette Bascoe, Ph.D., is a distinguished scholar and leader whose work centers on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), antiracism education, and the intersection of faith and resilience. With a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in School Psychology from Roberts Wesleyan University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College, Dr. Bascoe combines rigorous academic training with a deep commitment to social justice. Her expertise encompasses restorative justice practices, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Response to Intervention for Behavior (RtI:B), and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). As an Associate Professor of Psychology and Senior Advisor to the President for University Culture at Roberts Wesleyan University, she leads initiatives that foster a culture of care and belonging, particularly for BIPOC students and communities.

Dr. Bascoe's research delves into the impacts of microaggressions and racism across various settings, exploring how engagement in DEI and antiracism work affects mental health and well-being. She also investigates the role of faith in coping with social and racial injustices, contributing to resilience across the lifespan. Her mentorship of numerous PsyD candidates reflects her dedication to cultivating the next generation of scholars committed to equity and inclusion.

Courses Taught

Undergraduate
Developmental Psychology
Psychology of Human Relationships
Psychology Field Work Prep

Graduate
Advanced Developmental Psychology
Research Methods and Statistic I
Research and Statistics II
Marriage and Family Therapy
Multicultural Diversity and Professional Practice

Education

  • Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology | University of Rochester
  • M.S. in Psychology | Roberts Wesleyan University
  • M.A. in Developmental Psychology | University of Rochester
  • B.A. in Psychology | Spelman College

Sample Publications

  • Bascoe, S.M. & Mitchell, T. (in final editing and production process). Exploring the impact of a race-matched BIPOC undergraduate peer mentor program. Journal of Psychology and Christianity
  • Pointer, L.C., Giles-Mitson, A., Bascoe, S.M., & Bovard, A. (in production). How to hold space for difficult multicultural conversations: A restorative approach. The International Journal of Restorative Justice.
  • Davies, P.T., Parry, L.Q., Bascoe, S.M., & Cummings, E.M. (2020). Interparental conflict as a curvilinear risk factor of youth emotional and cortisol reactivity. Developmental Psychology, 56(9), 1787-1802. doi: 10.1037/dev0001037
  • Davies, P.T., Thompson, M.J., Cicchetti, D., Bascoe, S.M., & Cummings, E.M. (2020). The Interplay of Polygenic Plasticity and Adrenocortical Activity as Sources of Variability in Pathways Among Family Adversity, Youth Emotional Reactivity, and Psychological Problems. Development and Psychopathology, 32(2), 587-603. doi: 10.1017/S0954579419000439
  • Davies, P.T., Parry, L.Q., Bascoe, S.M., Martin, M.J., & Cummings, E.M. (2018). Children’s vulnerability to interparental conflict: The protective role of sibling relationship quality. Child Development, 90(6), 2118-2134. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13078
  • Davies, P.T., Sturge-Apple, M.L., Bascoe, S.M., & Cummings, E.M. (2013). The legacy of early insecurity histories in shaping adolescent adaptation to interparental conflict. Child Development, 85(1), 338-354. doi: 10.1111/cdev.12119
  • Bascoe, S.M., Davies, P.T., & Cummings, E.M. (2012). Beyond warmth and conflict: The developmental utility of a boundary conceptualization of sibling relationship processes. Child Development, 83(6), 2121-2138. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01817.x
    Martin, M.J., Bascoe, S.M., & Davies, P.T. (2011). Family Relations. In B. B. Brown and M. Printstein (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Adolescence, Vol. 2 (pp. 84-94). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.06038-7
  • Martin, M.J., Bascoe, S.M., & Davies, P.T. (2011). Family Relations. In B. B. Brown and M. Printstein
    (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Adolescence, Vol. 2 (pp. 84-94). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.06038-7
  • Bascoe, S. M., Davies, P.T., Sturge-Apple, M.L., & Cummings, E. M. (2009). Children’s representations of family relationships, peer information processing, and school adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 45(6), 1740-1751. doi: 10.1037/a0016688