Ignacio Acevedo Receives Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to J-DEI

December 9, 2024 - Shelly DeJong

Congratulations to Ignacio Acevedo, an associate professor of ecological-community psychology and core faculty in Chicano/Latino Studies and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, on receiving the 2024-25 Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to J-DEI. This award recognizes the department’s faculty and staff’s outstanding contributions to the advancement of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (J-DEI).  

“I am fortunate to work alongside many departmental colleagues who deserve recognition for their excellence at ensuring that our scholarship, teaching, and service are engaged, representative, and fair. I am humbled, and motivated, by this award,” said Acevedo. 

Over his 9 years at Michigan State University, Acevedo has contributed significantly to J-DEI efforts through research, service, and teaching.  

Acevedo’s research centers on developing, disseminating, and improving programs that promote positive development for youth, with a strong emphasis on working with marginalized communities.  He has been Associate Editor of the Journal of Latinx Psychology and received the Distinguished Early Career Award from the National Latinx Psychological Association.  

As a community-engaged scholar, Acevedo collaborates closely with communities to identify the challenges they face and partners with other scientists to explore potential solutions.  He often co-authors research papers with community partners and actively involves graduate students, having 27 co-authorships by Michigan State graduate students across his publications. Currently, his research focuses on applied youth sociopolitical development, as well as an emerging area of study in decolonizing and Indigenous community psychology. 

Acevedo has made significant contributions to the department, college, and university related to DEI-relevant issues. He was a member of the Community Education Partner Collaborative for the Flint Community from 2018-2023. Currently, he services as a Dean’s Institutional Access Fellow and was a mentor for the Dean’s Research Associate Program. Additionally, he has chaired the Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion and co-chaired the Working Group for the College’s Strategic Plan on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

Acevedo served as the founding coordinator for the department’s Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative where he conducted a formal assessment of both the needs and strengths of the department. As part of implementing the work plan, he wrote a successful proposal for MSU Graduate School funding to support Psychology Futures, a departmental initiative supports the success of graduate students from groups that are underrepresented in higher education. 

In 2021, Ignacio was selected as the Co-Director of MSU’s long-running International Engagement in Mexico program, which annually enrolls over 100 MSU students to engage in international service learning. He has regularly mentored MSU Summer Research Opportunities Program students, several of whom have gone on to doctoral studies.  

“Throughout his research, teaching, and service, Dr. Acevedo brings an approachable demeanor that engages others, so when he asks challenging questions, he has already created a safe space for others to think out loud,” said Dr. Rebecca Campbell, University Distinguished Professor. “He provides structure and encouragement to identify solutions and show how those solutions can indeed become reality. MSU and the Department of Psychology are fortunate to have him as a colleague and member of our community.”