Skip to main content
Department of Psychology

Caitlin Mercier

Assistant Professor in WGSS/Psychology
Psychology
Office
DEG Degarmo Hall 427
Office Phone
(309) 438-5851office
phone
Email
cmmerci@ilstu.eduemail
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Current Courses

PSY 390.047 Advanced Research Apprenticeship

PSY 123.001 Human Sexuality

PSY 305.001 Psychology Of Women

PSY 405.001 Psychology Of Women

PSY 290.047 Special Projects: Research Apprenticeship

PSY 291.047 Special Projects:Undergraduate Teaching

PSY 466.001 Substance Abuse Counseling

PSY 390.047 Advanced Research Apprenticeship

WGS 393.001 Black Feminist Thought

WGS 493.001 Black Feminist Thought

PSY 123.001 Human Sexuality

PSY 305.001 Psychology Of Women

PSY 405.001 Psychology Of Women

PSY 290.047 Special Projects: Research Apprenticeship

Teaching Interests & Areas

Multiculturalism, social equity, antiracism and anticolorism

Research Interests & Areas

(Intersectional) experiences of veg*ns; consequences of stigma; minority stress, coping, and well-being of Black Americans/women; discrimination and mental health

Ph D Counseling Psychology

Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, Louisiana

BS Psychological Science

Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

Barbara A. Kirk Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Research

Society of Counseling Psychology
2021

Grants & Contracts

New Faculty Initiative Grant. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2023)

Journal Article

Mercier, C., Abbott, D., & Ternes, M. Coping Matters: An Examination of Black Americans’ Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Bryan S. K. Kim (EDs). The Counseling Psychologist 50.3 (2022): 384-414.
Abbott, D., Franks, A., Cook, C., & Mercier, C. (Non)Religious Coping with a Natural Disaster in Rural U.S. Community. Secularism and Nonreligion (2021)
Abbott, D., Ternes, M., Mercier, C., & Monceaux, C. Atheists of color: Experienced discrimination, outness, and psychological distress (2020)
Abbott, D., Mollen, D., Mercier, C., Anaya, E., & Rukus, V. “Isn't atheism a White thing?”: Centering the voices of atheists of color.. Journal of Counseling Psychology 67.3 (2020): 275-287.
Abbott, D., Pelc, N., & Mercier, C. Cultural humility and the teaching of psychology (2019)
Abbott, D., Mollen, D., Mercier, C., Anaya, E., & Rukus, V. "Isn't atheism a White thing?": Centering the voices of atheists of color (2019)

Manuscript

Mercier, C. Centering Veg*ns of Color: An Intersectional Imperative to Anti-Veg*n Stigma. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion (2024)
Mercier, C., Bychowski, J., & Yang, W. Skin deep: A relational cultural approach to colorism for Black women in psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice

Other

Mercier, C. What's the Beef with Veg*ns: A Mixed Method Approach to Anti-Veg*n Stigmatization

Presentations

Mercier, C. M., Landor, A., & Sutton, N. (2024, April 18 – 19). Skin tone matters: The intersectional stress of racism and colorism for Black women. In Mercier, C.M. (Chair). Skin Deep: Considerations for Psychological Examination of Colorism. [Invited symposium]. 2024 Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL, United States.
Mercier, C. (2023, June). “Black feminist approaches to anti-Black racism and speciesism” [Poster presentation accepted]. Animal Advocacy Conference, University of Kent, Cantebury, UK
Mercier, C. & Bychownski, J.** (Submitted for 2023). More than Race: A Relational Cultural Approach to Colorism. American Psychological Association Annual Convention *Indicates student researcher