Making Gumbo In the University
For most of his career Rupert Nacoste has been known for his research on the social psychology of affirmative action. In that work, he discovered that a person’s evaluations and reactions to affirmative action were mostly determined by the procedures used to bring affirmative action to life. His research showed that procedures of affirmative action have a determinative influence on the perceived fairness of the policy, evaluation apprehension of beneficiaries, perceptions of organizations, and a host of other social psychological outcomes.For two years, Nacoste was in university administration, serving as the Vice Provost for Diversity and African American Affairs. It was a turbulent two years, which he reflects on in his "Making Gumbo" memoir published in 2010.Trained by John W. Thibaut, Nacoste works out of Harold Kelley & John Thibaut’s theory of interpersonal-interdependence. Recently, in that context he developed a model of neo-diversity; the dynamic tension-system in modern interpersonal-intergroup interactions (Nacoste, 2006). Now most of his time is spent translating these ideas for the non-specialist in his undergraduate classes at North Carolina State University and in his writings. For example, he uses the ideas that he teaches to comment on the now well known-to-be-wrong claim that we live in a post-racial America (Nacoste, 2009).Nacoste's classes at North Carolina State University are invigorating explorations in personal psychology. In the words of a student, "BY FAR the best professor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. If all you are looking for is a good grade, don't take his class. If you want an educational experience like no other, sign up and enjoy! He's brilliant and will make you more interesting than you currently are."