Allen M. Omoto, Ph.D.
Allen M. Omoto, Ph.D., has served as Pitzer’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty since 2019. He earned his BA with Honors in Psychology from Kalamazoo College and his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Previously, he was a faculty member at the University of Kansas (1988-2000) and at the Claremont Graduate University (CGU, 2000-2019). At CGU, he also served as the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (2014-2019) and as the Interim Dean of the School of Educational Studies (2016-2018).
Dr. Omoto is a social psychologist who has a long-standing commitment to social justice research, teaching, and service. His primary research interests focus on the social and psychological aspects of prosocial behavior and civic and political engagement, including volunteerism. His also conducts scholarly work on social issues and social action – particularly environmental issues, HIV disease, and sexual minority (LGBTQ+) concerns – and on the connections between psychological science and policy. Dr. Omoto has published numerous journal articles and book chapters, and his research has been supported by federal and foundation grants.
Throughout his career, Dr. Omoto has been extensively engaged in community and professional service activities, including grassroots organizing and working as a legislative aide in the US Congress. He has served as the elected President of two different professional societies, and he has served on numerous governance boards, committees, and working groups of the American Psychological Association (APA), the world’s largest professional organization of psychologists. He is the recipient of an Outstanding Achievement Award from the APA Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, the Western Psychological Association’s Social Responsibility Award, and an APA Presidential Citation for “passionate dedication to social justice and to bringing psychological science to bear on social policy.”
