Assistant Professor of Psychology
About
Additional Research Interests: Identity, Discrimination/Prejudice/Bias
I am interested in how youth and young adults navigate racial experiences within educational contexts. My research examines racial experiences broadly to encompass both explicit forms of racism and discrimination, as well as more subtle racial processes such as internalized stereotypes regarding "authentic" racial behavior. One area of interest investigates the accusation of "acting white" among ethnic minority students to identify whether racial expectations for behavior are associated with important psycho-social implications (e.g., mental health, well-being, & academic achievement). Another line of work looks at the implications of racial exposure and intergroup contact when youth transition to new schools that differ drastically from the racial composition of their prior educational contexts. Overall, my research utilizes an ecological approach to understand how racial experiences, identity beliefs, and contextual factors interact with one another to shape positive developmental trajectories.
Affiliation(s)
- Personality and Social Contexts