Doctoral Candidate Brochure: Marcia L. Denton

Doctoral Dissertation Defense
of
Marcia L. Denton

For the degree of

Doctor of Education
Interprofessional Leadership

Using Regular Reminders of Mindfulness Practices to Address Implicit Racial Bias

March 19, 2026
4:30 p.m.
Microsoft Teams (link coming soon)

Using Regular Reminders of Mindfulness Practices to Address Implicit Racial Bias

Implicit racial bias is a phenomenon that can have a powerfully detrimental impact on racial equity efforts. This study was born of the desire to develop a field-based experience that would explore the use of practicable strategies for the mitigation of implicit racial bias in a way that was feasible in the context of a busy school day. Specifically, this study sought to explore how reminders to use the mindfulness practices of awareness, self-compassion, values/self-affirmation, and curiosity could enable the identification of implicit racial bias, and the reduction of implicit racial bias, as perceived by the participants.

Participants in the study took part in a small workshop where they were presented with information on how the aforementioned mindfulness practices could be integrated with their efforts to mitigate the impact of implicit racial bias. Over the course of approximately two months, participants received reminders about the practices. Surveys and interviews conducted at the start and end of the study revealed the biggest influence of the techniques being the detection of implicit racial bias in themselves. A survey administered several months after the study revealed lasting positive effects of the practices.