In 2016, Dr. Palmer founded Deeper Than Color in Oakland California. He provides psychotherapy and diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting to a diverse clientele of individuals and organizations. Dr. Palmer has served on the board of directors for the Association of Black Psychologists, as the State Diversity Delegate for the California Psychological Association and is a past President of the Alameda Psychological Association. He was the producer/cohost of the Naming It podcast and is the author of USA Today recommended "Daddy Why Am I Brown?": A healthy conversation about skin color and family.
Dr. Palmer spent 3 years as a staff psychologist, coordinating Services to Students of African Descent and the Multicultural Immersion Program at the University of California Davis. Dr. Palmer has been a faculty member at Saint Mary’s College of California since 2015. There he teaches courses in professional ethics, intercultural communication, human sexuality, psychological perspectives of gender, and advanced clinical practice to master’s level clinicians in-training.
Media Outreach, Invited Lectures, & Keynotes
Palmer, B. E. F. (2021). Facilitator: “Providing Culturally Responsive Support for Black Men.” This four-hour training workshop was presented to clinical and administrative staff primarily from Counseling and Psychological Services at CSU Long Beach, as well as a number of staff from counseling centers within the CSU system. Presented via Zoom, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2021). Facilitator: “Deepening Awareness & Compassion for Black Lives.” This one-hour training was developed and presented for the Target D&I Champion Meeting, as contracted by The Black Girl Doctor Inc, in order to provide a primer for mindset development to diversity and inclusion teams across the Target corporation. Presented via Zoom, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2020). Author: “Virtual Reading + Book Talk.” This one-hour presentation was focused on sharing “Daddy Why Am I Brown?”: A healthy conversation on skin color and family, and discussing healthy ways to talk to children about race and racism. Presented for Deloitte via Zoom, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Moderator: “Stereotypes of a Bay Male Misunderstood.” Invited by community organizers in order to moderate panel of Black men from local Oakland community. Panelists shared their experiences at the intersection of Blackness and Masculinity. Panel discussion organized by Wokeland podcast and Oakstop, Oakland, California.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Panelist: “Discussion of BlacKkKlansman Movie.” Provided a space for critical discussion of the film in relation to race, racism, and white supremacy. Discussion held as part of the American Psychological Association Film Festival, at the American Psychological Association Convention, Chicago, Illinois.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Interviewed about social justice in psychological practice. Presented as part of: Rebecca L. Toporek (Producer), Muninder K. Ahluwalia (Producer), Elizabeth Robey (Producer), Alexander Street (Producer), (2019). Helping Counselors and Psychologists as Advocates and Activists: Strength, Solidarity, Strategy and Sustainability. Alexandria, VA: Microtraining Associates. [Streaming Video]. Retrieved from video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/helping-counselors-and-psychologists-as-advocates-and-activists-strength-solidarity-strategy-and-sustainability database
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Panelist: “Paths of Activism: Martin and Malcolm.” Conversation exploring the different but parallel paths taken by Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. An examination of the ways class, racism, and faith prepared two very different men for international leadership in the struggle for human dignity and simple human justice. Held at Saint Mary’s College of California campus. Moraga, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Facilitator: “Intro to Cultural Competence.” First three-hour workshop in the Building Multicultural Competence Series. This training workshop was presented to Supervisors and Training Coordinators (psychologists) from the Kaiser Northern California Mental Health Training Programs. Petaluma, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Facilitator: “Understanding Privilege.” Second three-hour workshop in the Building Multicultural Competence Series. This training workshop was presented to Supervisors and Training Coordinators (psychologists) from the Kaiser Northern California Mental Health Training Programs. Petaluma, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Facilitator: “Building Allyship.” Third three-hour workshop in the Building Multicultural Competence Series. This training workshop was presented to Supervisors and Training Coordinators (psychologists) from the Kaiser Northern California Mental Health Training Programs. Petaluma, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F., & Hill, L. (2019). Keynote Address: Naming It Podcast: Exploring social justice through social media. Delivered to the Palo Alto University Center for Excellence in Diversity. Palo Alto, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Facilitator: “Thriving While First Gen.” This workshop was presented to students in the High Potential Program at Saint Mary’s College of California. Moraga, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Moderator: “Discussion of The Black Panther Movie.” The goal of this film viewing will be to provide a space for active dialogue related to taking a strength-based approach to addressing the experiences of people of African descent, and how that might change the way we work with Black people within the US and internationally. Discussion held as part of the Film Festival, at the National Multicultural Conference & Summit. Denver, CO.
Palmer, B. E. F., & Hill, L. (2019). Plenary: “Naming It Podcast” Be Disruptive - Innovative Tools for Enhancing Learning. Delivered to the National Council of Schools & Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP) at their Mid-Winter Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Palmer, B. E. F., & Hill, L. (2019). Keynote Address: Embodying the 5th Force: Cultivating our Professional Identity as Agents of Change through Social Justice and Social Media. Delivered to the National Council of Schools & Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP) at their Mid-Winter Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2019). Facilitator: “Thriving While Black.” This workshop was presented participants in the Black@YouTube 2019 Off-Site. Palo Alto, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F., & Hill, L. (2018). Keynote Address: The Development and Impact of ‘Naming It Podcast: Exploring the Intersections of Social Justice, Psychology, and Blackness.’ Delivered as the Best in Practice Address for the Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17, at the American Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2018). Panelist: “The Role of Feminist Psychology in Our Current Political Climate: A Panel Discussion.” This panel explored how the political climate affects various practice communities within feminist psychology. Seasoned feminist psychologists, Dr. Lauren Mizock and Dr. Tania Israel discussed the role that feminist psychologists have as advocates and pioneers of social change. Held at the American Psychological Association, Divison 35 Suite, San Francisco, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F., & Hill, L. (2016-Present). Co-Host & Producer for the Naming It podcast, a series (52 episodes and counting) of psychological discussions, which uses current events to engage in critical inquiry into the intersections of social justice, psychology, and the experience of being Black in the United States. This is all presented in the form of a humorous, collegial, and engaging conversation between two experts who hold differing viewpoints. Oakland, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2017). Guest Lecture for psychology student organization at the University of California, Merced. This discussion focused on providing information to a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students about psychologists’ role in advocating social justice, career development in psychology and mental health related fields, and pros/cons of pursuing a masters or doctoral degree in psychology and counseling. Merced, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2017). Behavioral Sciences Panelist at the Northern California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education hosted by the University of California, Merced. This panel focused on providing information to a diverse group of graduate students about careers in the behavioral sciences. Merced, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2017). Panelist: “5 Core Principles Faculty Panel & Dialogue with Students” Recipients of 2017 CILSA awards were asked to discuss how they embody the Lasallian principles, and to challenge student leaders to find their own Lasallian identity. Held at Saint Mary’s College of California campus. Moraga, CA.
Shah, S., Palmer, B. E. F., El Sayed, S., & Coté, M. (2016). Guest Panelist for “Addressing Cultural Disconnect in Therapy: Strategies for Working with Multicultural Ruptures.” Discussion focused on multicultural ruptures in the therapeutic relationship, such as microaggressions, cultural difference, and issues of power & privilege. Held at the Sacramento Valley Psychological Association Annual Conference. Sacramento, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F., & Sosa, G. A. (2016). Co-facilitator. “Beyond Disbelief: Solutions Emerging from Truth” was part of a series of community conversations about the racial climate at Saint Mary's. This conversation was structured into seventeen simultaneous think tanks, consisting of faculty, staff, administrators, and students. Held at Saint Mary’s College of California campus. Moraga, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2016). Behavioral Sciences Panelist at the Northern California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education hosted by San Jose State University. This panel focused on providing information to a diverse group of graduate students about careers in the behavioral sciences. San Jose, CA. Palmer, B. E. F., & Welch, M. (2016). Co-facilitator. KSOE Cultural Competency Retreat. This retreat focused on ways members of the KSOE could contribute to the School becoming an exemplar for creating inclusive community on the Saint Mary’s College of California campus. Moraga, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2015). Alternatives to the Classroom. Panelist for Breakthrough San Francisco Intern Teacher Program. San Francisco, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2014). Invited Lecturer. Black Masculinity: Stereotypes, Stigma, Sexuality and Identity: Seminar discussion for Black Male Success class. Davis, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2014). Invited Lecturer. Diversity & Intersections of Identity: Workshop presented at the University of California, Collegiate Recovery Retreat. Santa Cruz, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (2013). Invited Panelist. Alternatives to the Classroom. Panel discussion for Breakthrough San Francisco Intern Teacher Program. San Francisco, CA.
Connor, M., White, J. L., & Palmer, B. E. F. (February 2012). Panelist. Black Fathers and Families Symposium: Discussion panel and book signing event. Davis, CA.
Connor, M., White, J. L., Palmer, B. E. F., & Rentie, R. (February 2012). Black Fathers: An Invisible Presence in America. Author’s Lecture and Book Signing. Long Beach, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F., Norton, R., & Cote, M. (February 2012). Facilitator. Self-Care and Coping with Stress. Workshop provided to participants of UC Davis Black Convocation. Davis, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (October, 2011). Facilitator. Black Men’s Town Hall Meeting. Facilitated community meeting focused on the concerns of UC Davis men of African Descent. Invited outreach provided to participants at the UC Davis Black Leadership Conference. Tahoe, CA.
Haggins, K., & Palmer, B. E. F. (October, 2011). Facilitator. Structured and facilitated community difficult dialogue, which focused on barriers to cohesive community and identifying ways to deconstruct these barriers. Invited outreach provided to participants at the UC Davis Black Leadership Conference. Tahoe, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (September, 2011). Preparing for Excellence through self-care. Invited Keynote Address during UC Davis Black Fall Welcome. Davis, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (August, 2011). Facilitator. You Belong Here: Combating imposter feelings in students of African descent. Invited outreach provided to UC Davis LFA Scholars during orientation program. Davis, CA.
Palmer, B. E. F. (December, 2010). Facilitator. Stigma and Mental Health Utilization in African American Communities. Invited outreach provided to MacDonald Avenue Church of Christ. Richmond, CA.