MSU Denver Professor fights discrimination with knowledge

Anna Ropp teaches psychology, but she has a deep interest in history—as in putting discrimination where it belongs, in the history books. When she’s not teaching about discrimination at Metropolitan State University of Denver, you’ll often find her researching discrimination to learn how people respond to it and how to eliminate it. Ropp, an assistant professor of psychology who holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in social psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz, is wrapping up a study on the experiences of LGBTQ students in the classroom.

Q. Can you share a quick overview of your research involving LGBTQ students in the classroom?

I’m interested in knowing if these students are encountering heteronormative [The Oxford dictionary definition: denoting a world view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal sexual orientation information], and if so, how it affects their process of learning.

Q. What have you found?

LGBTQ students were more likely than heterosexual students to agree that professors present heteronormative information in the classroom, and were more likely to report that they’d feel uncomfortable if a professor were to present information that was homophobic, biphobic or transphobic.

Q. Why is this kind of research important?

If LGBTQ students are experiencing homophobia, biphobia or transphobia in the classroom, it’s very likely affecting their performance in the classroom. For LGBTQ students to thrive in college and in life, having a positive experience in college classrooms is essential.

Q. What does your research tell us about the potential outcomes for learning and teaching?

LGBTQ college students encountering heteronormative information may be negatively affected. If so, we need to educate teachers and professors so that changes can be made and all students are able to succeed in the classroom. In addition, if heterosexual students are taught in an environment where straight isn’t the norm, it would be more reflective of society and possibly beneficial to everyone.

Q. What was the research methodology, and where has it been presented?

Last year I conducted a questionnaire study partially funded by MSU Denver’s School of Letters, Arts and Sciences. I presented the results in January 2013 at the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology and at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s teaching pre-conference.

Q. You’re active on Twitter. If you could only tweet one message to the world about human equality or discrimination, what would you write?
Have you thought about how other people experience the world? Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Metropolitan State University of Denver offers 55 majors and three master’s degrees on Colorado’s most diverse college campus. The Auraria Campus Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Student Services office serves the students, faculty and staff of MSU Denver and other Auraria Campus schools.