Brighid Dwyer

Brighid Dwyer is currently the Director of the Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) at Villanova University. The IGR programs seeks to transform students' understanding of social identities and inequality through dialogue with others. In her role, she develops and manages all aspects of the IGR Program. Dwyer’s research focuses on minoritized students’ experiences in higher education and approaches that promote equity and justice in colleges and universities. Her research spans three main areas—Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), students’ experiences in IGR classes, and campus racial climate. Her MSI research focuses on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and emerging HSIs. Specifically, she is interested in the ways MSIs understand their changing institutional identity and how students of all racial backgrounds experience these institutions. Dwyer is also an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Communication, the Department of Education & Counseling, and the Center for Peace & Justice Education. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.