Geraldine "Geri" Palmer, a woman with curly hair in a ponytail, wearing a leopard-print blouse and a necklace, stands with arms crossed, smiling at the camera against a plain background.

Geraldine (Geri) Palmer, Ph.D.

Core Faculty

Clinical Psychology

Chicago

“The whole world opened up to me when I learned to read.” – Mary McLeod Bethune

gpalmer@adler.edu Connect on LinkedIn Connect on Research Gate

OVERVIEW

Dr. Palmer is a community psychologist, scholar practitioner/activist, and educator whose work centers on the intersection of community psychology, Black/African American studies, community-based healing, and social justice. Her professional background spans nonprofit leadership, higher education, community-engaged research, and program development. Areas of expertise include community psychology, decolonial and Black-centered pedagogies, and historical/intergenerational trauma and healing among Black/African Americans.

MEMBERSHIPS + ASSOCIATIONS

  • Community Wellness Institute, LLC Society for Community
  • Research and Action (SCRA) – Division 27 of the American Psychological Association (APA) Cultural
  • Ethnic and Racial Affairs (CERA) Council of SCRA African American Historical Intellectual Society National Association of Black Booksellers

Publications + Presentations

Publications

Black enclaves after reconstruction: Cultivating collective identity in preparation for the revolution. In T. Parsons (Ed.),

2025 Black 1968. Routledge.
Author(s): Palmer, G.

Investigating historical trauma prevalence and transmission pathways among African Americans: Centering community wellness practices.

2023 Psychological Thought, 16(1), 15-44. 
Author(s): Palmer, G., Rogers, T., & Wilkins, N.
Publication Link: https://doi.org/10.37708/psyct.v16i1.699

Looted artifacts and museums’ perpetuation of imperialism and racism: Implications for preserving cultural heritage.

2023 American Journal of Community Psychology.
Author(s): Palmer, G.

The great replacement theory: Linkage to the possessive investment in whiteness. https://www.communitypsychology.com/replacement-theory

2022 (Reprinted from The Community Psychologist,  by G. Palmer, 2022).
Author(s): Palmer, G.
Publication Link: https://www.scra27.org/publications/tcp/council-cultural-ethnic-and-racial-affairs/

(Eds) Case studies in community psychology practice: A global lens.

2021 Rebus Pressbooks. 
Author(s): Palmer, G., Rogers, T., Viola, J., & Engel, M.
Publication Link: https://press.rebus.community/communitypsychologypractice/

 
Oppression and power. In L.A. Jason, O. Glantsman, J. F. O’Brien, & K. N. Ramian (Eds.), Introduction to community psychology: Becoming an agent of change.

2019 Rebus Pressbooks, 
Author(s): Palmer, G., Fernandez, J. S., Thomas, D., Lee, G., Masud, H… Bernai, I.
Publication Link: https://press.rebus.community/introductiontocommunitypsychology/chapter/oppression-and-power/

Presentations

Dismantling oppression: Praxis of disrupting power, Closing Plenary Session

2021 Presented at the Society for Community Research and Action
(SCRA) 18th Biennial Conference

A Call for Epistemic Justice: Decolonizing Knowledge Creation, Liberation and Mobilizing Strategies.

2025 Presented at the SCRA Biennial Conference, Michigan State University.
Author(s): Wilton, L., Palmer, G., & C. Colburn

Navigating the Path to Global Social Justice: Confronting Modern-day Colonialism and Imperialism.

2024 Proposal presented at the Social Justice 101 Conference, Malcolm X College, Chicago, IL
Author(s): Palmer, G., Olanrewaju, M., & Williams, N.

Different Shades of Blackness Represented in Psychology: The Experiences of Black Psychologists in Academic Practice and Community Settings.

2024 Paper Presented at the 2024 Midwest Psychological Association (MPA), Palmer House, Chicago, IL
Author(s): Olanrewaju, M., Palmer, G., Kapalamula, M.

In Council on Cultural, Ethnic & Racial Affairs (CERA), (2023) (Chair) “Advancing Epistemic Justice: Decolonizing Knowledge Creation and Dissemination”

2023 Presented at the 2023 SCRA Biennial Conference, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Author(s): Colburn, S., Palmer, G.

The role of culture and historical context in conceptualizing African feminism. In Reflections on South Africa’s Context.

2023 Scholarly panel delivered at the Sindiwe Magona 2023 Scholarly Conference, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Author(s): Palmer, G.,

LEADERSHIP + ENGAGEMENT

  • Past Chair – Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Adler University, Chicago, IL
  • Past Co-Chair – Adler Black Caucus, Adler University, Chicago, IL
  • Past-Chair, Council on Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs (CERA) – Division 27 of APA
  • Equity Consultant, Equity Institute, YWCA, Evanston
  • Vice-Chair, Housing and Homelessness Commission, City of Evanston
  • Commissioner, Housing and Homelessness Commission, City of Evanston