Dr. Sanfrená Britt
Director, Office of Kingdom Diversity
Student Life
sbritt@umhb.edu
Bawcom 2245
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Box 8019
(254) 295-4944
Dr. Sanfrená A. Britt earned her doctorate in Educational Administration in Higher Education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and her Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology from Texas A&M University-Central Texas.
She is the recipient of numerous awards for her scholarly work, and recently received the Outstanding Qualitative Research award for her doctoral dissertation entitled, Socioeconomic Inequality and Disadvantages in Education. She also recently earned the nationally recognized ACUE credential for Effective Online Teaching Practices and micro-credential for Inclusive Teaching for Effective Learning. She began her career in higher education at Texas A&M University-Central Texas in 2013, and she has served as an educator in the Central Texas area continuously since 1992.
She posits that research in educational psychology is a fundamental component in understanding human and social behavior, and assisting with academic citizenship. More specifically, she subscribes to the foundational perspective that qualitative evaluations in grounded theory ethnographies assists with exploring underlying issues that contribute to not only maladjustments in educational settings, but also to maladjustment to societal norms and underachievement in areas fundamental to economic success, such as education and vocation.
She is sensitive to the need to reach beyond cultural differences and find commonalities that allow global collaborations. The beauty of each ethnic group is a demonstration of the uniqueness of the human experience. The ability to see physical and cultural differences as an asset is at the core of diversity, rather than a premise for prejudicial inequality. The goal is not to ignore racial uniqueness, ethnic diversity, and the relationships that develop as a result of understanding the richness offered by each; the goal is to explore and redefine preconceived perceptions of these differences and discover that we have more in common than we do in contrast.
Subjects Taught
General Psychology, Race & Ethnic Relations, Sociology of the FamilyDegrees Earned
Doctorate of Education, Educational Administration; Masters of Science in Psychology; Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Associate of Arts in PsychologyResearch Interests
Neuroscience (specifically neuropsychology), cognitive affect, diversity and belonging are core research interests for Dr. Britt. She seeks to develop effective ways of connecting to diverse human experiences.
Each individual who attempts to address the various differences in how the world is perceived should have the assurance that a label of dysfunction does not identify the totality of their successful outcomes and possibilities. Research assists in preparing both society and individuals to adjust and to explore various initiatives and approaches tailored to individuals who need assistance; and should not merely follow a path identified by a systematic diagnosis as the map for successful assimilation.
Therefore, thorough exploration of cognitive processing, detailed psychological assessment, family and community history, and innumerable research connections to similar societal situations offer the elemental foundation for understanding how we learn and what hinders the successful transition of knowledge to wisdom. There must be a bridge built that connects experience with understanding and understanding with application. Dr. Britt seeks to find these connections and offer assistance for those who have not yet found their voice and continue to explore their purpose.