麻豆传媒

When Kendell Coker, Ph.D., J.D., was considering the direction he wanted to take when writing his dissertation, he discovered an academic journal article examining the . The research resonated with him, and he knew it was what he wanted to write about and focus on in his own work. The article appeared in the , the esteemed peer-reviewed journal that Dr. Coker was recently named co-editor of.

Years after publishing his dissertation, Dr. Coker was asked to do an adhoc review for the journal that is released bimonthly. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry is an journal that is the principal publication of the .

鈥淲ho would鈥檝e thought an article that ended up serving as the framework for my dissertation would be in the journal that I ended up becoming an editor for years later?鈥� said Dr. Coker, an associate professor of psychology at the University. 鈥淚t almost seems there鈥檚 something serendipitous about that, and it reminds me of the saying that, if you鈥檙e lucky, your career chooses you. I think it also says a lot about that journal and the connection I felt to it, as well as the topics the journal focuses on.鈥�

鈥業 hope to continue to highlight research dedicated to social justice topics鈥�

Serendipity may have also played a role in Dr. Coker鈥檚 career path in that psychology and the law were the only two professions he said at an early age that he鈥檇 never go into. He now has advanced degrees in both.

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Coker noticed that the opportunities present in certain communities were not as available in others. That sparked his interest in social justice. He later began exploring the impact of violence on communities 鈥� something he experienced firsthand. He had a particularly eye-opening experience as an undergraduate student at in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

鈥淭he first time I jumped when I heard a gunshot was after I鈥檇 been away at college,鈥� he explains. 鈥淲hy didn鈥檛 I jump when I heard them before? Through exposure to violence in the community, I became normalized to it.鈥�

Dr. Coker鈥檚 passion for social justice is reflected in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, he says, as that is a major focus of the articles it features. Recent issues have included research on topics such as race-related stress, attitudes toward guns and mental illness, and psychological science and COVID-19.

"I hope students won鈥檛 be afraid of their own potential for success. This is an important lesson for students, and for everyone."Kendell Coker, Ph.D., J.D.

鈥淭he previous editors did a great job, and I hope to continue to highlight research dedicated to social justice topics,鈥� said Dr. Coker. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important not to wait until topics are at the forefront but to be preemptive. It鈥檚 critical to not only think about what鈥檚 important now, but to be proactive and consider issues that are bubbling beneath the surface.鈥�

鈥楽erving in such a prestigious capacity is something I can鈥檛 even put into words鈥�

Dr. Coker wants to highlight research that will lead to meaningful change across the country and around the world. He hopes it will be a way to highlight populations in need of support and as a tool to help address mental health challenges before they become difficult to manage.

Excited about the opportunities his editorship will create for the University and for his students, Dr. Coker hopes the opportunity will further the University鈥檚 commitment to social justice. An advocate for student scholarship, he also looks forward to the opportunities it will create for students, such as connecting with authors, learning about the publication process, and taking part in workshops.

鈥淚 hope my students learn from my experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople often think others have never had fears of failure or that they鈥檝e never felt like they didn鈥檛 belong, but I learned to navigate those fears that I had. I hope students won鈥檛 be afraid of their own potential for success. This is an important lesson for students, and for everyone.鈥�

Dr. Coker鈥檚 goals are to publish and promote rigorous research in the journal that promote inclusivity and diversity. He is brainstorming ways to make the information in the articles digestible and accessible to all students, and he plans to include them in that process.

鈥淎s someone from an underserved population, serving in such a prestigious capacity is something I can鈥檛 even put into words,鈥� said Dr. Coker. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 always think about what the possibilities can be, and I truly never thought I鈥檇 be in a position to do this. As someone who is passionate about where scholarship can go. I鈥檓 now in a position to contribute to that landscape.鈥�