Mihael MacBeth is a 2nd year graduate student in the ecological community psychology program whose research focuses on transgender and nonbinary experiences of joy and resilience. More specifically, MacBeth is interested in how these experiences can emerge and endure despite systemic power imbalances.
“It’s important to me to focus on strengths,” said MacBeth. “There are stories of suffering everywhere, from TV to the news to academic journals, and that’s critical work – but it paints an incomplete picture of the trans experience. Joy and hope are necessary for survival. Understanding them and helping to cultivate them, that’s meaningful work.”
As an undergraduate student, MacBeth was first drawn to neuropsychology. Their desire to study ecological-community psychology began when they started feeling drawn to combine social justice with their work as a researcher.
“Like many marginalized scholars, I’ve felt the brunt of discrimination before,” said MacBeth. “The grace of my community, as well as those who have stood in solidarity with us, has gotten me through more than I can say. Committing to equity-driven research and community engagement is a very small way of paying that forward: helping to create a landscape that isn’t quite so ravaged by injustice.”
As a field, ecological-community psychology works to improve the lives of people in their communities through a combination of research and action—and this is something that MacBeth appreciates.
“Despite recent obstacles, I have seen everyone from peers to senior faculty continue to strive to conduct rigorous, high-quality research in line with our field’s values, and this fills me with unspeakable hope and pride.”
In addition to their research, MacBeth is active in their community, having collaborated with Salus, local LGBTQ resource center to conduct a community perception survey that informed a new strategic plan.
MacBeth is also working to archive sexual and gender minority research to make sure it remains accessible to the public.
MacBeth recently received the 2025 Joseph L. White Award for Outstanding Graduate Contributions to Justice, Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion. This award looks to encourage and support the department’s graduate students’ exemplary research on topics that examine or advance justice, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion.
The award is named after Joseph L. White, PhD, the first African American person to receive a doctorate in clinical psychology from Michigan State University.