By Emily Putnam
Carleton is thrilled to welcome 2023-2024 Fulbright Distinguished Chair Dr. Michele Lewis, hosted by the Feminist Institute of Social Transformation (FIST). Hailing from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, USA, Lewis brings a wealth of expertise as a dynamic professor and psychologist.
For her time at Carleton, Lewis is motivated to continue her barrier-breaking work that elevates and centres non-western frameworks in psychology, delving into cross-cultural experiences, and exploring the realm of cultural neuroscience among marginalized communities.
Lewis’ work extends beyond writing for only academic audiences, contributing to the monthly blog "Cultural Neuroscience: The Social Life of Our Brains” for Psychology Today.
In her role as a Fulbright Scholar, Lewis is set to embark on the second phase of an impactful initiative known as 'Emotional Emancipation Circles.' After recognizing a significant gap in research and inclusion for those with intersecting identities, she committed herself to casting light on this neglected area of study by bringing 10 Canadians and 10 Americans together virtually. The group will meet once a week for eight weeks in total, using a curriculum co-developed by the Association of Black Psychologists and Community Healing Network.
The Circles are not therapy, but rather safe spaces for people of African descent who also identify as 2SLGBTQ+ to connect, discuss their experiences, and work towards wellness and authentic expression. “I want them to be as broadly inclusive of people of African descent as possible,” says Lewis, “and I don’t think that there’s been any targeted work applying them with people who might be identified as of the Black queer intersecting identity.”
"I really want to bring folks together, because that's kind of what Fulbright wants us to do - to be cultural ambassadors in the work that we do while we are engaged in another country"
With a strong belief in the practical application of academic research to improve the lives of everyday people, Lewis is resolute in her goal to produce work that offers tangible and relatable resources. She aims to use research and insight gained from the Circles to create an extension of her previous co-authored book published in 2012, titled ‘LGBT psychology research perspectives and people of African descent.’
Lewis’ fervor for psychology is rooted in her ever-present curiosity to understand the nuances and intricacies of the motivation of humans, coupled with an equally passionate intrigue by the workings of human cognition.
"I have always been fascinated by the complexities of the brain. Early on, I knew that I wanted to study how our minds work. And I try to stay on top of that literature as much as I can."
Since arriving at Carleton, Lewis has taken note of the university's rich academic environment.
“It seems like almost every day there’s some kind of public lecture. It’s so easy to remain intellectually stimulated at Carleton.”
Pointing to the pivotal interdisciplinary aspect of her own work, Lewis is quick to underscore the importance of maintaining an open-minded approach to current and aspiring psychology students.
"I think psychology is related to everything. I think, that even at the undergraduate level, psychology students should begin thinking that way."
Having arrived in Ottawa in August of this year, Lewis found herself in a city she had not visited before. However, her two-decade-long experience of living in Washington, D.C. is proving instrumental in providing her with a contextual understanding of residing in a national capital. "I kind of had some idea of what to expect with respect to a lot of government workers and tourism, and a wide variety of types of people from different nationalities who have come here for various reasons,” explains Lewis.
One aspect of Canadian life where Lewis acknowledges her lack of experience is the winter climate. “Every person I’ve met who is Canadian, I’ve asked them, what will I need to do? When is it going to happen?”
“I’m waiting for it to come, and [so far] the weather has been perfect, but everyone says to just wait for December.”
In her free time, Lewis has been watching the ABC series ‘Claim to Fame’ to enjoy weekly bonding time with her sister; she is also an avid decorator of whichever space she is occupying at the time. This is evidenced by her office in Dunton Tower, which is already looking vibrant, boasting an array of plants, and a unique chair that is a conversation piece in the office.
Lewis says she looks forward to a future where her work can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of human beings that is also culturally broader, noting, “It’s past time for interest in the human spirit to be reintegrated with psychology. I think it was Toni Morrison that said: 'sometimes if a book doesn't exist that you want to read, you have to write it.’ That’s, in part, what motivated my current Fulbright project.”