Psychology & Neuroscience

Dawn Szymanski

Dawn Szymanski

Dawn Szymanski

by

CV
https://psychology.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Szymanski-vita-for-UT-website-12_1_25-1.pdf

Dawn Szymanski

Professor | Associate Director of Clinical Training, Counseling Psychology

Key words: LGBTQ+ psychology; psychology of women and gender; multicultural psychology; intersectionality; positive identity, resilience, activism; multicultural-feminist therapy and supervision

Education

PhD, Georgia State University, 2001

Research

Research Interests

Broadly, my research interests are in LGBTQ+, women & gender, and multicultural psychologies. More specifically, I examine if, how, and when external oppression, internalized oppression, traditional/restrictive gender role socialization processes, and culture influence individual experience and psychological and relational health among members of minoritized groups (e.g., LGBTQ+, women, BIPOC). I also examine positive identity, resilience, activism, and well-being despite the challenges associated with a marginalized status.

Research statement

My program of research primarily focuses on how social and cultural factors affect the identity development, mental health, and relationship quality of minoritized group members [e.g., LGBTQ+, women, BIPOC]. More specifically, my research focuses on examining how external oppression (e.g., sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or race-based prejudice, rejection, harassment, discrimination, and violence), internalized oppression (e.g., negative attitudes, beliefs, and feelings about oneself as a minoritized group member), traditional/restrictive gender role socialization processes (e.g., adherence to traditional/restrictive masculine and feminine norms), and culture influence individual experience and psychological and relational health among members of minoritized groups. I attend to the complexity of individuals’ lives by investigating the potential additive, interactive, and intersectional influences of multiple oppressions on the mental and relational health of those with multiple minority identities (e.g., heterosexism and sexism for sexual minority women; heterosexism and racism for QTBIPOC; gendered racism for African American women). I also examine positive identity, resilience, activism, and well-being despite the challenges associated with a marginalized status. I am committed to training therapists and students in multicultural feminist issues and conduct research and write applied articles aimed at promoting culturally competent clinical services to diverse groups of clients. I typically ground my studies in multi-cultural feminist theories, such as minority stress, cultural relational, intersectionality, insidious trauma, and gender role conflict theories. I use both quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and engage in scholar activism.

Honors

  • Alumni Association (UTAA) Distinguished Service Professorship Award 2025, University of Tennessee; In recognition of demonstrated excellence as a scholar and teacher in the classroom and laboratories of the University of Tennessee.
  • Graduate Student Senate Outstanding Graduate Research Mentor Award 2024, University of Tennessee.
  • Editor, Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2020-2024
  • College Convocation Award for Senior Research and Creative Achievement (Arts, Humanities and Humanistic Social Sciences Category) 2023, University of Tennessee.
  • Chancellor’s Research & Creative Achievement Award 2022, University of Tennessee; University-wide award bestowed to senior faculty in recognition of excellence in research, scholarship, and creative achievement. 
  • Laura Brown Award 2017, American Psychological Association Division 35 (Psychology of Women); For recognition of “outstanding contributions in advancing lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women’s psychology through research, teaching, practice, and/or activism.”
  • The Outstanding Major Contribution Award in The Counseling Psychologist for Sexual Objectification of Women 2012, American Psychological Association Division 17 (Counseling Psychology); Co-recipients Lauren Moffitt and Erika Carr; $5,000
  • Woman of the Year Award 2012, American Psychological Association Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) Section for the Advancement of Women
  • Chancellor’s Honors Jefferson Award 2011, University of Tennessee
  • Fellow, American Psychological Association, Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) 2010, Division 44 (LGBT Issues) 2011, Division 35 (Psychology of Women) 2011; For recognition of “unusual and outstanding contributions that have had national or international impact.”
  • Diversity Leadership Award 2010, University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences
  • Chancellor’s Honors Angie Warren Perkins Award 2010, University of Tennessee
  • Emerging Leader for Women in Psychology Award 2009, American Psychological Association Committee on Women in Psychology; For recognition of “innovative, high-quality research accomplishments that affect women’s lives or improve their status”
  • Chancellor’s Honors LGBT Ally Research Award 2009, University of Tennessee
  • Psychotherapy with Women Award 2005, 2002, 1999, American Psychological Association Division 35 (Psychology of Women)

Publications

Below are selected publications for each of my five major inter-related domains of interest: (1) LGBTQ+ psychology, (2) psychology of women & gender, (3) intersectionality, (4) positive identity, resilience, and activism, and (5) multicultural-feminist therapy and supervision. For a full listing of my publications, see my Curriculum Vita above. I am particularly passionate about working with graduate students to develop their own research ideas and publish regularly with them.

(* indicates graduate student collaborator)

I. LGBTQ Psychology

  • Szymanski, D. M., Goates, J. D.*, & Dua, V.* (2025). How does structural stigma influence LGBTQ students’ college-related outcomes? Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000884
  • Szymanski, D. M., & Carretta, R. F.* (2020). Religious-based sexual stigma and psychological health: Roles of internalization, religious struggle, and religiosity. Journal of Homosexuality, 67(8), 1062-1080. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2019.1601439
  • Szymanski, D. M., & Bissonette, D.* (2020). Perceptions of the LGBTQ College Campus Climate Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Journal of Homosexuality, 67(10), 1062-1428. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2019.1591788
  • Bandermann, K. M.*, & Szymanski, D. M. (2014). Exploring coping mediators between heterosexist oppression and post-traumatic stress symptoms among lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1, 213-224. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000044
  • Szymanski, D. M., Kashubeck-West, S., & Meyer, J.* (2008). Internalized heterosexism: Measurement, psychosocial correlates, and research directions (Major Contribution). The Counseling Psychologist, 36, 525-574. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000007309489

II. Psychology of Women and Gender

III. Intersectionality

  • Dua, V.*, Szymanski, D. M., Gonzalez, K. A., & Arora, S.* (2024). If not us, then who? QTBIPOC graduate researchers’ experiences researching QTBIPOC communities. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000621
  • Obenauf, C.*, Szymanski, D. M., & Owens, G. P. (2024). Moving beyond vulnerability and focusing on resilience: An intersectional model of posttraumatic growth for LGBTQ+ people of color. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80, 2326–2343. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23745
  • Szymanski, D. M., Ikizler, A. S.*, & Dunn, T.* (2016). Sexual minority women’s relationship quality: Examining the roles of multiple oppressions and silencing the self. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 3, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000145
  • Szymanski, D. M., & Lewis, J. A. (2016). Gendered racism, coping, identity centrality, and African American college women’s psychological distress. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 40, 229-243. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684315616113
  • Szymanski, D. M., & Sung, M. R.* (2010). Minority stress and psychological distress among Asian American sexual minority persons. The Counseling Psychologist, 38, 848-872. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000010366167

IV. Positive Identity, Resilience, and Activism

  • Szymanski, D. M., Goates, J. D.*, & Strauss Swanson, C.* (2023). LGBQ activism and positive psychological functioning: The roles of meaning, community connection, and coping. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 10(1), 70-79. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000499
  • Strauss Swanson, C.* & Szymanski, D. M. (2020). From pain to power: An exploration of activism, the #MeToo Movement, and healing from sexual assault trauma. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 67(6), 653-668. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cou0000429
  • Szymanski, D. M., & Gonzalez, K. A. (2020). The role of resilience in sexual and gender minority mental health. In E. Rothblum (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of sexual and gender minority mental health (pp. 429-442). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190067991.013.38
  • Szymanski, D. M., & Lewis, J. A. (2015). Race-related stress and racial identity as predictors of African American activism. Journal of Black Psychology, 41, 170-191. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798414520707
  • Sung, M. R.*, Szymanski, D. M., & Henrichs-Beck, C.* (2015). Challenges, coping, and benefits of being an Asian American lesbian or bisexual woman. Journal of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2, 52-64. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000085

 V. Multicultural Feminist Therapy and Supervision

  • Szymanski, D. M. & Carretta, R. F.* (2020). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients. In G. McAuliffe (Ed.), Culturally alert counseling: A comprehensive introduction (3nd Edition; pp. 369-405). Sage.
  • Szymanski, D. M., Carr, E. R.*, & Moffitt, L. B.* (2011). Sexual objectification of women: Clinical implications and training considerations. The Counseling Psychologist, 39,107-126. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534765609358464
  • Ancis, J. R., Szymanski, D. M., & Ladany, N. (2008). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Counseling Women Competencies Scale (CWCS). The Counseling Psychologist, 36, 719-744.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000008316325
  • Szymanski, D. M. (2003). The Feminist Supervision Scale (FSS): A rational/theoretical approach. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 27, 221-232.  https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-6402.00102