Childhood experiences of living in Mexico, the United States, Ivory Coast, and Thailand cemented an early interest in cultural differences and intergroup relations. He received his B.A. from Yale University and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. Mendoza-Denton’s professional work covers stereotyping and prejudice from the perspective of both target and perceiver, intergroup relations, as well as how these processes influence educational outcomes. He received the Division of Social Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award in 2013.