BIOGRAPHY

Ricky J. Pope, Ph.D., is a psychologist providing mental health services to San Diego State University (SDSU). As an alumnus of SDSU, Dr. Pope is honored to engage in outreach and support across the campus, foster academic readiness by teaching a Bounce Back course, and provide individual and group therapy. His general clinical interests involve working with emerging adults, exploring racial and ethnic identity concerns, treatment of depression and anxiety, addressing men’s issues, and supporting first-generation students to persist toward degree completion.

The foundation of Dr. Pope’s therapeutic approach is humanistic. He also incorporates humor, cognitive-behavioral, multicultural, social justice, and mindfulness-based approaches to his therapeutic style. As a first-generation college student, he is aware that higher education, whether it is undergraduate or graduate school, can be a challenging yet rewarding time in life. He is passionate about assisting clients in identifying existing strengths, bolstering areas of growth, and locating resources to actualize their potential. He holds professional affiliations with the Association for Black Psychologists (ABPsi) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

His research interests involve critical considerations of racism and equity, service delivery to underrepresented populations, and the study of organizational structures and participant outcomes in the justice setting. He is particularly interested in and experienced with practice, advocacy, and research/scholarship pursuits that promote the health and welfare of African American adolescents and young men. He has presented at the Association of Black Psychologists conferences, the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, the Society for the Study of Social Issues, Counseling Psychology Great Lakes Regional Conference, the Annual Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference, and the National Multicultural Summit and Conference.

His work has been published in the Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, Social Justice Research, and Victims & Offenders. He was awarded the Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award. Dr. Pope is a former recipient of the Dr. Lonnie Earl Duncan Memorial Scholarship Award for demonstrating a commitment to social justice, diversity, and inclusion and also awarded the Thurgood Marshall Fellowship.

He truly has a passion and deep commitment to social justice, particularly toward racial justice, anti-racist consciousness, and improving the lives of African Americans and marginalized communities. His scholarship, practice-oriented training positions, and research on youth diversion programs are evidence of this commitment.

AWARDS + HONORS

• 2018 Dr. Lonnie Earl Duncan Memorial Scholarship Award

• 2016- 2017 Department Graduate Research and Creative Scholar

• 2012- 2013 Department Graduate Research and Creative Scholar

• 2011- 2016 Thurgood Marshall Fellowship, Western Michigan University

PUBLICATIONS + PRESENTATIONS

Pope, R. J., & Jones, J. N. (2020). Exploring Organizational Strategies and Participant Experience in the Young Adult Diversion Court. Victims & Offenders, 15(2), 267-290.

Pope, R. J. (2013). Reflections of a black male counseling psychology doctoral student: Lessons learned from APA division 45 commentary and the role of social justice for Counseling Psychologists. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 5, 103-115.

Pope, R.J., & Flanigan, S. (2013). Revolution for breakfast: Intersections of activism, service, and violence in the Black Panther party’s community service programs. Social Justice Research, 1–26. doi:10.1007/s11211-013-0197-8.

Pope, R.J., & Laurent, V.R. (2013). 42 the true story of an American legend: Cinematic discourse as a pedagogical tool for multicultural training. The Diversity Factor, 7, 15-18.

Pope, R.J. & Jones, J. N. (2020, Apr 17 – 21) Changing Course: Narratives of Transformation in a Spoken-Word Court Diversion Program [Poster Session]. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA http://tinyurl.com/qlujks6 (Conference Canceled).

Pope, R.J., Jones, J.N. (2018, February). Exploring Organizational Strategies and Participant Experience in the Young Adult Diversion Court. Paper presented at the 30th Annual Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference (EQRC) Las Vegas, NV.

Pope, R.J., Jones, J.N. (2018, February). Narratives of Participant Experience and Transformation in a Spoken-Word Court Diversion Program. Paper presented at the 30th Annual Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference (EQRC) Las Vegas, NV.

Laurent, V.R., & Pope, R.J. (2015, July). The retention game: Creating a culture of success for black students. Paper presented at the Association of Black Psychologists 47th Annual International Convention in Las Vegas, NV.

Pope, R.J. (2015, March). Using creative and expressive arts with clients in non-traditional settings. Paper presented at the 28th Annual Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference, Ball State University Muncie, IN.

Jones, J.N., Pope, R.J., & Tinnon, B. (2014, February). Integrating counseling and therapeutic services in a young adult diversion court. Paper presented at the 26th Annual Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference (EQRC) Las Vegas, NV.

Pope, R.J., Jones, J.N., & Tinnon, B. (2014, February). Navigating and negotiating treatment and punishment in a young adult court diversion program. Paper presented at the 26th Annual Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference (EQRC) Las Vegas, NV.

Laurent, V.R., & Pope, R.J. (2013, July). It takes a village: An investigation of community-centered schools. Paper presented at the Association of Black Psychologists 45th Annual International Convection in New Orleans, LA.

Pope, R.J., Malone, W.T., Greene, M.G., Jenkins, E.N., & Laurent, V.R. (2013, April). Watered down and diluted: A critical race perspective of multiculturalism in counseling psychology. Roundtable discussion at the 26th Annual Great Lakes Regional Conference, Western Michigan University, Grand Rapids.

Pope, R.J., & Laurent, V.R. (2013, January). Transforming K-12 education: An intentional focus on the intersection of culture and education. Roundtable discussion presented at the National Multicultural Conference and Summit, Houston, TX.

Pope, R.J., & Flanigan, T. (2012, August). Serving revolution for breakfast: The intersection of activism, service, and violence in the Black Panther party’s community service programs. Paper presented at the Society for the Study of Social Problems 62nd Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

Bushfan, O., McGiffert, J., Pope, R.J., & Simpson, J. (2012, July). Men of African descent surviving the gauntlets of academia & practice: Community change agents, healers, and support allies. Paper presented at the Association of Black Psychologists 44th Annual International Convention Los Angeles, CA.

Laurent, V.R., & Pope, R.J. (2012, July). Those left behind: Reshaping the achievement gap literature. Paper presentation at the Association of Black Psychologists 44th Annual International Convention Los Angeles, CA.

Pope, R.J., Laurent, V.R., Jones, S.E., Malone, W.T., & Jenkins, E.N. (2012, March). Creating a culture of success for African American graduate students in counseling psychology Ph.D. programs. Great Lakes Regional Conference, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN.

Butler-Byrd, N., Emerson, L., Simpson, J., Pope, R.J., & McGiffert, J. (2011, August). Building multicultural competence through traditional knowledge and healing. Paper presented at Association of Black Psychologists 43rd Annual International Convention, Washington, D.C.

Pope, R.J. (2010, April). Factors associated with academic achievement in high school populations. Paper presented at the 3rd Annual Diversity Conference, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.