Profile for Jason Sumontha

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Jason Sumontha
Assistant Professor
Psychology
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Specialty area(s)
Developmental and Community Psychology; sexual orientation and gender diversity; parenting; socialization; child development; LGBTQ+ families; family processes; resilience
Brief biography
Who am I?
Hello! My name is Jason Sumontha. I'm an assistant professor at UWL in the Psychology department. I specialize in the areas of developmental and community psychology.
[Image Description: First is a picture of me at a Chinese restaurant in Minneapolis. Second is a picture of me at Mardi Gras in New Orleans.]
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What do I teach?
I teach classes on things like culture, identity, and families! In my classes, I like to focus on projects that get students excited about learning.
To me, learning should be an adventure. I want students to remember a time when everything was new and learning a grand quest—of dinosaurs, starry skies, metamorphosis, and volcanos.
To see themselves reflected in their learning. To see queer, Asian, Indigenous, adoptee, rural, disabled, and more... reflected in psychology. To know they are seen, are valid, and belong.
So, let's go on an adventure together!
[Image description: A group of students are play testing their Educational Board Game project. One student raises a card as the others gasp in surprise.]
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What is my research focus?
I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Virginia where I studied the qualities that promote family health, with a focus on LGBTQ+ parents and their children.
My research at UWL focuses on promoting the positive development and health of LGBTQ+ families, considering social context and intersections of identity. This includes stuff like:
- Resilience and protective factors among parents and their children
- The intersections between sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and socioeconomic status.
- The application of research on queer families to policy, practice, and law
If you're interested in working with me on as a research or teaching assistant, you can send me an email or just stop by my office during my office hours!
[Image description: Two group pictures of former and current students/collaborators who have worked with me in research or teaching.]
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What else do I do at UWL?
All my life, I've been heavily involved in Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability efforts.
Here are just a few things I've done or am currently doing at UWL to make positive changes!
2021-Present Co-Chair, Gardner Institute Teaching and Learning Taskforce
2021-Present Chair, BIPOC & International Staff, Teachers, and More! Group
2021-Present Equity Liaison, UWL Psychology
2021-Present Adviser, UWL Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT)
2021-Present Adviser, UWL Asian Student Organization (ASO)
2021-Present Member, UW System Campus Climate Survey Working Group
2019-Present Member, Diversity and Inclusion Committee – Psychology
2019-2022 Member, Child and Youth Care (CYC) Committee – Psychology
2020-2021 Member, RISE UP Faculty & Friends Group
2020-2021 Chair, BIPOC Self-Care Collective
2019-2021 Chair, Faculty Teaching Development Group – Psychology
Moving beyond ally:
I put myself on the front lines with my students and colleagues.
I commit to making concrete actions that focus on undoing harm, rather than just listening and learning.
I lift up voices of the historically excluded, not just my own.
I take action and disrupt injustice, even at the cost of my own social standing or physical well-being.
And I will make mistakes, but I will learn from them and keep trying to improve.
That is what it means to be more than an ally to me.
[Image description: A group picture of the Asian Student Organization (2021-2022) who I work with as their faculty advisor!]
Current courses at UWL
PSY 282: Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSY 325: LGBTQ+ Youth Psychology
PSY 495: Youth Violence and the Juvenile Justice System
CYC 301: Overview of Child and Youth Care
Education
Ph.D., University of Virginia (Developmental & Community Psychology)
M.A., University of Virginia (Developmental & Community Psychology)
B.A., University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (Major: Psychology)
Career
Teaching history
University of Virginia:
PSYC 4559 Modern Families: Parenting and Child Development in Diverse Family Systems
PSYC 3460 Psychological Study of Children, Families, and the Law
Research and publishing
- Patterson, C. J., Tate, D. P., Sumontha, J., & Xu, R. (2018). Sleep difficulties among sexual minority adults: Associations with family relationship problems. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 5(1), 109-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000264
- Sumontha, J., Farr, R. H., & Patterson, C. J. (2017). Children’s gender development: Associations with parental sexual orientation, division of labor, and gender ideology. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 4(4), 438-450. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000242
- Sumontha, J., Farr, R. H., & Patterson, C. J. (2016). Coparenting and social support among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual adoptive couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(8), 987-996. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0000253
- Tornello, S. L., Blanchfield, B. V., & Sumontha, J. (2015). LGBTQ romantic relationships. Oxford Bibliographies Online: Psychology.
- Patterson, C. J., & Sumontha, J. (2015). Children with LGBQ parents, gender development and identity. SAGE encyclopedia for LGBTQ Studies. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483371283.n76
In Preparation:
- Sumontha, J., Tornello, S. L., & Patterson, C. J. (In preparation). Stigmatization and parenting stress among gay fathers: An examination of the mediational role of relationship quality
- Simon, K. A., Sumontha, J., Lee, S., Kim, A., Farr, R. H., & Lee, R. M. (In preparation). The Effects of Colorblindness and Parent-Child Relationship Quality on Parent’s Perceived Discrimination among adolescent Korean Adoptees.
Kudos
presented
awarded
Jason Sumontha's office hours
Remote office hours offered: Email me at jsumontha@uwlax.edu to set up a virtual appointment.