The Social Perception & Attitudes (SPA) Lab is a psychological research team at Providence College that investigates the operation of intergroup biases in the social world. In particular, we examine how stereotypes interact with goals and norms to influence our perceptions, attitudes, thoughts, and behavior within intergroup contexts. Our research is theoretically grounded in several areas, including social, organizational, legal, and political psychology, and employs a variety of methods, such as surveys, reaction-time measures, and behavioral assessments. This integrated approach helps us identify the sociocultural and cognitive processes that drive intergroup biases, which in turn helps us better understand how they may develop and how they can be reduced.
Lab Director & Principal Investigator
Dr. Saaid A. Mendoza
Associate Professor of Psychology
Interim Assistant Vice President of DEI
Dialogue, Inclusion, and Democracy Faculty Associate
Dr. Mendoza graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Rice University in 2004, where he earned the William C. Howell Undergraduate Research Award for his work on workplace stigmas with Dr. Mikki Hebl. As a doctoral student at New York University, he studied under Dr. David Amodio examining the self-regulation of implicit stereotypes and responses to norm violators. In 2010, he received the Stuart W. Cook Award for Graduate Research and completed his Ph.D. in Social & Organizational Psychology. Dr. Mendoza's first academic appointment was as a visiting assistant professor at Amherst College, learning about teaching pedagogy from his colleague, Dr. Catherine Sanderson. He joined Providence College in 2014, where he is now an Associate Professor of Psychology and serves as the principal investigator and director of the SPA Lab. After serving as a faculty-in-residence, Dr. Mendoza was recently promoted to interim Assistant Vice President in the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, helping to develop, oversee, and assess DEI initiatives for the College. For his social advocacy, community engagement, and leadership, he was selected as the winner of the 2021 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award. More recently, Dr. Mendoza was honored as the 2022-2023 Joseph R. Accinno Teaching Award recipient, given to the faculty member "who best exhibits excellence in teaching, passion and enthusiasm for learning, and genuine concern for students' academic and personal growth."
Associate Professor of Psychology
Interim Assistant Vice President of DEI
Dialogue, Inclusion, and Democracy Faculty Associate
Dr. Mendoza graduated with a B.A. in psychology from Rice University in 2004, where he earned the William C. Howell Undergraduate Research Award for his work on workplace stigmas with Dr. Mikki Hebl. As a doctoral student at New York University, he studied under Dr. David Amodio examining the self-regulation of implicit stereotypes and responses to norm violators. In 2010, he received the Stuart W. Cook Award for Graduate Research and completed his Ph.D. in Social & Organizational Psychology. Dr. Mendoza's first academic appointment was as a visiting assistant professor at Amherst College, learning about teaching pedagogy from his colleague, Dr. Catherine Sanderson. He joined Providence College in 2014, where he is now an Associate Professor of Psychology and serves as the principal investigator and director of the SPA Lab. After serving as a faculty-in-residence, Dr. Mendoza was recently promoted to interim Assistant Vice President in the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, helping to develop, oversee, and assess DEI initiatives for the College. For his social advocacy, community engagement, and leadership, he was selected as the winner of the 2021 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award. More recently, Dr. Mendoza was honored as the 2022-2023 Joseph R. Accinno Teaching Award recipient, given to the faculty member "who best exhibits excellence in teaching, passion and enthusiasm for learning, and genuine concern for students' academic and personal growth."
Lab Members
New Lab Members Coming Fall 2023!
Lab Alumni
2023
Nicole Borowiec - MEd in Higher Education Candidate, Providence College
Kate Evangeline - Analyst, BBR Partners NYC
Patrick Kelly - Clinical Researcher, McLean Hospital
Rosie Morford
Sydney Skop - Recruiting Account Manager, Randstad Technologies
2022
Tiffany Berry - Research Assistant, Boston Children's Hospital
Samantha Sierra -
Hope Tiboni - MA in Public Health Candidate, Brown University
2021
Alexandra Baker - PsyD in Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University
Katherine Mandarakas - MEd in Literacy, Providence College
Samantha Matzerath - Executive Recruiter, Daversa Partners NYC
Michael Pettinato - MS in Counseling Psychology, Northeastern University
Taylor Tristine - JD Candidate, The Catholic University of America
2020
Alison LeMoigne - Dance Team Coach, New York University
2019
Jaylee Gendreau - MS in Applied Behavior Analysis, Endicott College; Clinician in Training, Beirman Autism Centers
Isabel Ortiz Mendiguren - MA in School Psychology, Tufts University; Psychologist
Natalie Phelps - Health & Wellness Director, Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham
Caroline Royal - MSEd in Counseling & Mental Health Services & MPhil Professional Counseling, University of Pennsylvania; Psychotherapist
Julianne Szemko - PsyD in Clinical Psychology Candidate, Florida Institute of Technology
2018
Margaret Branham - MS in Speech & Language Pathology, Northeastern University; Speech & Language Pathologist
Marissa DiMaria - PsyD in Clinical Psychology Candidate, Antioch University New England
Lauren Martone - MA in Clinical Psychology, Minnesota University-Mankato; PhD in School Psychology, University of Utah
2017
Jillian Doherty - MD Candidate; Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Julie James - Clinical Trial Associate, Syndax Pharmaceuticals
2016
Melissa Sheil - MA in Higher Education-Student Affairs, Boston College; Legal Recruiting Specialist, Cravathe, Swaine, & Moore LLP
Nicole Borowiec - MEd in Higher Education Candidate, Providence College
Kate Evangeline - Analyst, BBR Partners NYC
Patrick Kelly - Clinical Researcher, McLean Hospital
Rosie Morford
Sydney Skop - Recruiting Account Manager, Randstad Technologies
2022
Tiffany Berry - Research Assistant, Boston Children's Hospital
Samantha Sierra -
Hope Tiboni - MA in Public Health Candidate, Brown University
2021
Alexandra Baker - PsyD in Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University
Katherine Mandarakas - MEd in Literacy, Providence College
Samantha Matzerath - Executive Recruiter, Daversa Partners NYC
Michael Pettinato - MS in Counseling Psychology, Northeastern University
Taylor Tristine - JD Candidate, The Catholic University of America
2020
Alison LeMoigne - Dance Team Coach, New York University
2019
Jaylee Gendreau - MS in Applied Behavior Analysis, Endicott College; Clinician in Training, Beirman Autism Centers
Isabel Ortiz Mendiguren - MA in School Psychology, Tufts University; Psychologist
Natalie Phelps - Health & Wellness Director, Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham
Caroline Royal - MSEd in Counseling & Mental Health Services & MPhil Professional Counseling, University of Pennsylvania; Psychotherapist
Julianne Szemko - PsyD in Clinical Psychology Candidate, Florida Institute of Technology
2018
Margaret Branham - MS in Speech & Language Pathology, Northeastern University; Speech & Language Pathologist
Marissa DiMaria - PsyD in Clinical Psychology Candidate, Antioch University New England
Lauren Martone - MA in Clinical Psychology, Minnesota University-Mankato; PhD in School Psychology, University of Utah
2017
Jillian Doherty - MD Candidate; Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Julie James - Clinical Trial Associate, Syndax Pharmaceuticals
2016
Melissa Sheil - MA in Higher Education-Student Affairs, Boston College; Legal Recruiting Specialist, Cravathe, Swaine, & Moore LLP