Dr. Jason Okonofua, a social psychologist in the Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences at Brown University, has been awarded the Joseph E. Zins Award for Outstanding Contributions to Action Research in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). The award is part of the 2024 SELLY Awards, announced by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), which honors outstanding achievements in SEL. Dr. Okonofua is one of seven “Social and Emotional Learning Leaders of the Year” recognized for their work advancing the field and paving the way for others.

Dr. Okonofua’s research focuses on understanding and addressing societal inequities, particularly how negative stereotypes affect life outcomes in contexts such as education, criminal justice, and business. His work investigates how bias contributes to disparities and seeks to identify scalable, science-based strategies to combat these issues. By testing feasible solutions, Dr. Okonofua explores ways to reduce bias in pivotal real-world situations, aiming to dismantle harmful societal patterns that have persisted over time.

Through his innovative and impactful contributions to SEL, Dr. Okonofua is making  strides in advancing the understanding of social and emotional learning, while also working to create more equitable environments in various sectors of society.