Review the profiles below to learn more about the CSU Intergroup Dialogue Training team members. You can contact us about this project at CSUdialogues@gmail.com.
Dr. Manpreet Dhillon Brar | Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Child Development
California State University, San Bernardino
About Dr. Dhillon Brar
Dr. Manpreet Dhillon Brar (pronouns: she/her) is a trained facilitator of intergroup dialogue and passionate educator. She has a doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Education with an emphasis in Human Development and Psychology (2020). She has published and presented her work on civic engagement, dialogue, societal “isms” and intergroup relations. Having completed training for intergroup dialogue facilitation at the University of Michigan (2013) and at UCLA (2015), Dr. Dhillon Brar has facilitated workshops, classes, and training on diversity, equity, inclusion, and intergroup issues at multiple colleges, schools, community and private institutions. Dr. Dhillon Brar’s intergroup dialogue work includes addressing global and international audiences as well such as through educational study abroad trips with undergraduate students to conflict-ridden regions in the Middle East (2017-2019) and fellowship with the United Nations Development Programme in India (2017). Dr. Dhillon Brar is currently an Assistant Professor of Child Development at California State University, San Bernardino, where she serves majority first generation college students in hopes of reducing equity gaps and advancing inclusion through mentorship, teaching, and advocacy. As a diversity thought leader with a decade of experience, Dr. Dhillon Brar continues to serve as an equity and inclusion consultant for various projects and entities such as the City of Los Angeles and UC Adolescent Consortium.
Dr. Stacy Morris | Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Child Development
California State University, San Bernardino
About Dr. Morris
Stacy Morris, Ph.D. (pronouns: she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Child Development at California State University, San Bernardino. She has a doctorate from Boston College in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Arizona State University in the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics. She has received training in intergroup dialogue through the Universal Human Rights Initiative (2022) and has done work in university settings on examining and addressing inequities. Dr. Morris’ research and community involvement centers on supporting community engagement in adolescents and young adults and working toward dismantling inequities through building understanding of systems of inequity and motivating collective action. She has taught, published, and presented on issues related to equity, first-generation college students, and fostering an understanding of critical societal issues.
Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas | Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
Child and Family Studies Department
California State University, Los Angeles
About Dr. Morales-Chicas
Dr. Jessica Morales-Chicas (pronouns: she/her) earned a Ph.D in Education, with an emphasis in Human Development and Psychology, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Currently, she is an Associate Professor at Cal State LA in the Child and Family Studies Department. For the past 15 years, her work in education spans from working with preschool age, elementary, middle school, high school, and university-level students. At Cal State LA, she teaches courses on life span development, diversity and resilience, research methods, and child and family advocacy. Additionally, Dr. Morales-Chicas’ research uses a developmental lens to examine the role of ethnic diversity and curricular opportunities on motivation, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Aligned with her research interests, Dr. Morales-Chicas’ community work revolves around closing equity gaps, improving academic success, and increasing access in STEM and beyond. For example, she has directed various STEM programs that teach adolescents STEM skills (e.g., coding, virtual reality, and robotics) and entrepreneurship. She also co-developed an academic success program called CHDV Connect to advance the goals of the 2025 Grad Initiative in her department. Dr. Morales-Chicas has also served on various committees, boards, and is the current Co-Director/Advisor of the MA in Child Development program at Cal State LA. Finally, Dr. Morales-Chicas’ research skills and content expertise have allowed her to serve as a research and equity consultant for various projects and entities.
Universal Human Rights Initiative | Community Partner
About UHRI
We are partnering with a community organization, Universal Human Rights Initiative (UHRI.NGO), a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles. Trained facilitators at UHRI will be hosting the Intergroup Dialogue trainings.
