James is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department of Indiana University and the director of the Race and Relationships Research Team. Dr. Brooks graduated with his degree from the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Counseling Center at Michigan State University.
His research focuses on the ways in which typical developmental processes in relationships (e.g., commitment, attraction, jealousy) unfold in the context of interracial or multiracial partnerships. His projects ask “beyond which box(es) are checked, how does the meaning ascribed to race influence the relationship”. The endeavors of R&R explore identity, socialization, perceptions of stigma, racial ideologies and more.
As a mentor and instructor, Dr. Brooks values establishing genuine relationships of support. He has guided dozens of students through the process of generating new knowledge and answering questions of personal relevance through scientific rigor.
