Melissa Delgado Research Lab
Our Mission
Reducing racial inequality and fostering Latinx development through cultural resilience in adolescence
Taking a strengths-based approach, Dr. Delgado’s collaborative program of research focuses on the mechanisms that reduce racial/ethnic inequality (e.g., educational) and promote Latinx’s positive development across early to late adolescence, particularly for youth of Mexican origin. The body of work highlights the adaptive cultural responses in youths’ settings (i.e., family, school, peer) which contribute to variation in relations between macro forces (e.g., ethnic discrimination and economic hardship) and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., mental health, academic success). More recently, she is qualitatively and quantitatively examining the role of math and science academic identity and its links to culture, family and school support, academic success, and overall well-being.
Interested in participating in the Delgado Research Lab? Connect with our researcher!
Please fill out the following form to contact Dr. Delgado.
Melissa Delgado, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Science
McClelland Park Room 235J
650 N Park Ave
Tucson, Arizona 85721-0078
The Voices Project
A two-part study to explore ways school climate can reduce inequality and/or serve as a protective factor for Latino youth. The mixed-method design of this project includes first a qualitative study to inform the definition, articulation, and validation of a measure of school climate for Latino youths and, second, a quantitative study to explore whether school climate functions as an inequality reducer/protective factor.
The ALCANCE Project
A mixed-method longitudinal study to qualitatively and quantitatively examine the role of Latino students’ identities in relation to their academic socialization and support, school belonging, and academic outcomes.
Project Student Success
A study to examine the relations among ecological assets (i.e., educational values, ethnic identity, familism, and friendship networks), positive youth development (i.e., character, connection, confidence, caring, and competence), and academic achievement (i.e., educational aspirations, expectations, self-efficacy, and performance) in a sample of Latino early adolescents.
Dr. Rajni L. Nair
Dr. Diamond Y. Bravo
Dr. Daisy E. Camacho-Thompson
Dr. Norma Perez-Brena
Dr. Lorey Wheeler
Dr. Katharine Zeiders
Graduate and Undergraduate Research Assistants | Past
Rayni Thomas
Selena Carbajal
Kiera Coulter, MPH, MS
Devinee Peebles (2018-2019; ASU)
Margarita Ruedas (2018-2019; UA)
Avelina Rivero (2018-2019; UA)
Fernando Paredes (2018; UA)
Mea Valli-Doherty (2018-2019; ASU)
Cindy Szeto (2018; ASU)
Alexis Curiel (2019; UA)
Simur Khurana (2019; ASU)
Vivian Leung (2019; UA)
Sophie Setton (2019; UA)
Giselle Delcid (2019; UA)
Crystal Raygoza (2019; UA)