Professor Dr. Jason Okonofua

Biography

Jason Okonofua is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences at Brown University. His research investigates how stereotypes influence outcomes in high-stakes relationships and seeks scalable means to mitigate the effects of these stereotypes within institutions and organizations. Okonofua's work applies social-psychological processes to examine the inequities in teacher-student relationships, particularly concerning racial disparities in disciplinary actions. His research emphasizes the complex interplay of psychological and mindset processes that affect both teachers and students, hypothesizing that these intersections undermine the relationships and contribute to the disproportionate discipline of racially stigmatized students, thereby feeding into the school-to-prison pipeline. Okonofua has conducted large-scale randomized controlled trials demonstrating that virtual interventions can significantly reduce racial disparities in school suspensions, as well as recidivism rates among adults on probation or parole. His work has been published in top journals and has received several awards for its impact on applied research. He has collaborated with organizations such as Google and the Department of Education, and his findings have been featured in major media outlets like National Public Radio and The Wall Street Journal.

Research Interests

Awards