To study with Dr. Jonathan Mathias Lassiter, you must first apply and be admitted to the PhD program at Rowan University. You can find more information about the application process HERE and HERE. In your application materials, be sure to explicitly state your desire to work with Dr. Lassiter as your primary mentor. Students should also familiarize themselves with Dr. Lassiter’s research which can be found on this page and HERE.

Please note that Dr. Lassiter is accepting students for the Fall 2025 semester.

Students who are interested in clinical health psychology, qualitative methods, LGBTQ+, & culture-centered approaches to mental health will find that the SPIRiT Lab is aligned with their interests.

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All the work we do in the SPIRiT Lab is fundamentally informed by Black/African-centered psychology, intersectionality, and strengths-based approaches.

According to the Association of Black Psychologists, "Black/African Centered psychology is a dynamic manifestation of unifying African principles, values and traditions. It is the self-conscious "centering" of psychological analyses and applications in African realities, cultures, and epistemologies. Black/African centered psychology, as a system of thought and action, examines the processes that allow for the illumination and liberation of the Spirit.

Relying on the principles of harmony within the universe as a natural order of existence, Black/African centered psychology recognizes: the Spirit that permeates everything that is; the notion that everything in the universe is interconnected; the value that the collective is the most salient element of existence; and the idea that communal self knowledge is the key to mental health. Black/African Centered psychology is ultimately concerned with understanding the systems of meaning of human beingness, the features of human functioning, and the restoration of normal/natural order to human development. As such, it is used to resolve personal and social problems and to promote optimal functioning."

Specifically, all students will be required to learn and utilized the Optimal Conceptual Theory (OCT) and/or the Optimal Conceptual Theory applied to Sexual and Gender Minorities (OCT-SGM) in all of their work in the lab including their First-Year Research Projects, Masters Theses, and Dissertations.

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Students who are interested in learning how to do research from a culturally-specific space outside of Eurocentric models of mental health will likely do well in the SPIRiT Lab. A commitment to and passion for Black communities is required.

Students are welcomed to focus on non-Black communities in their self-directed work (e.g., Masters, Dissertations); however, all SPIRiT Lab research initiated by Dr. Lassiter is conducted with Black communities. Students will be required to contribute to this work.

Dr. Lassiter is a Black same-gender-loving cis male clinical psychologist, who is dedicated to social justice & liberation. He encourages students to embrace their cultures, their innate strengths, challenge themselves to learn and grow as intellectuals and human beings, and to find their paths to do their work in their communities.

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Students who possess the following qualities are likely to succeed in the SPIRiT Lab:

• Passionate about research and Black communities across the intersections of sexual orientation, gender, SES

• Strong research writing skills

• Able to work independently and knows when to ask for help

• Proactive

• Timely; meets all deadlines

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Respectful of others and self

• Comes to meetings prepared

• Good insight into one’s own strengths and areas for growth

• Hears, understands, and implements feedback in a timely manner

• Excited to contribute to research papers, projects, and grants

• Good time management of graduate school responsibilities with prioritization of research

• Does not make excuses

• Eager to learn about psychology and mental health beyond Eurocentric models

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If this description sounds like what you are looking for in your graduate education, the SPIRiT Lab will most likely be a good fit for you.

Email Dr. Lassiter at lassiter@rowan.edu to express your interests. We are always looking for research assistants who are dedicated to social justice, Black communities, and looking to learn beyond Eurocentric paradigms.

Email Dr. Lassiter at lassiter@rowan.edu to set up a meeting to discuss how you and the SPIRiT Lab might collaborate.

Email Dr. Lassiter at lassiter@rowan.edu to discuss how the SPIRiT Lab may assist you in your organizational needs.