Dr. Michelle Twali

Biography

Michelle Twali is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at NYU Steinhardt. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Clark University, a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Utah, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Ghana. Dr. Twali's research examines the factors contributing to the persistence of intergroup conflict and violence and explores methods for reducing such conflicts. Her scholarship integrates theoretical perspectives from social, political, and community psychology and employs various methods to understand how historical and sociopolitical contexts shape the psychological needs of individuals from groups targeted by collective violence and oppression. Additionally, she studies the meanings constructed by victim groups regarding their experiences with historical and current collective violence, leveraging social psychological theories to develop and evaluate interventions suitable for refugee and host community members. Her research is supported by funding from agencies like the Russell Sage Foundation and the Spencer Foundation, and she has collaborated with non-governmental organizations to design intervention programs that promote intergroup relations. Before joining NYU, she worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at Innovation Poverty Action at Princeton University.

Research Interests