Dr. Régine Debrosse’s research program focuses on how Black, Indigenous, and people of colour navigate contexts not designed with them in mind. A first line of work centers on negotiating complex and, at times, conflicting identities, notably in contexts emerging from immigration and racial marginalization. Another focuses on leveraging communities of colour's strengths to support their individual and collective goals. Ultimately, her research aims to invest in communities by identifying naturally emerging paths toward action and developing programs that foster such paths in partnership.
She laid the foundation for this research program while pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology from McGill University. She then extended this research as a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Education and Social Policy and Department of Psychology at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, before coming back to McGill University as a professor in the School of Social Work. Together with her research, her experiences heading a non-profit and conducting community projects reaffirmed her dedication to social justice and to using research to bring social change.
Selected publications
Debrosse, R., Kapo, L., & Métayer, K. (2023). The imperative to support Black youths in resisting low and limiting expectations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 71, 90–100. Doi: 10.1002/ajcp.12637
Debrosse, R., Thai, S., & Brieva, T. (2022). When skinfolk are kinfolk: Higher perceived support and acceptance characterize close same-race relationships for people of color. Journal of Social Issues, 79, 21–49. Doi: 10.1111/josi.12534
Debrosse, R., Destin, M., Rossignac-Milon, M., Taylor, D. M., & Rogers, L. O. (2020). Immigrant adolescents’ roots and dreams: Perceived mismatches between ethnic identities and career aspirations predict school engagement. Self & Identity, 19, 1–15. Doi: 10.1080/15298868.2018.1523223
Debrosse, R., Rossignac-Milon, M., Taylor, D. M., & Destin, M. (2018). Can identity conflicts impede the success of ethnic minority students? Consequences of discrepancies between ethnic and ideal selves. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 44, 1725–1738. Doi: 10.1177/0146167218777997
Destin, M., & Debrosse, R. (2017). Upward Social Mobility and Identity. Current Opinions in Psychology, 18, 99–104. Doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.08.006