Patricia Gurin is a social psychologist known for her work documenting the benefits of student and faculty diversity in higher education.
[1] Gurin provided testimony in the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court Affirmative Action case of Grutter v. Bollinger,[2] involving the University of Michigan, which ultimately deemed the university's affirmative action policies to be constitutional.
[3][4] Gurin was honored by the American Psychological Foundation with the 2010 Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement.
[5] Her award citation stated, "Her development of a theoretical rationale for the educational benefits of diversity, and supporting empirical analysis, played a pivotal role in the University of Michigan’s legal defense of its admission policies.
[12] She has authored and edited several books including Hope and Independence: Blacks' Response to Electoral and Party Politics,[13] Women, Politics and Change,[14] and Defending Diversity: Affirmative Action at the University of Michigan.