Andrea J. Romero, Ph.D.
Professor, Human Development & Family Science, Mexican American Studies
Degrees: B.S. Chemistry, Texas A & M University, M.A. Psychology, University of Houston, Ph.D. Social Psychology, University of Houston
Click here for more information on Dr. Romero’s publications and presentations.
UA email: romeroa@arizona.edu
Graduate Research Assistant
Academic Program: Ph.D. in Mexican American Studies
UA email: jcaporale@email.arizona.edu
Degrees: M.A. Ethnic Studies, University of California, San Diego; M.A. Political Science, California State University Northridge, B.A. Philosophy, University of California, San Diego
Hometown: San Diego, California
Graduate Research Assistant
Academic Program: Ph.D. in Mexican American Studies
UA email: rpaz@email.arizona.edu
Degrees: M.S., Mexican American Studies, University of Arizona; B.A. Latin American Studies, University of Washington; B.A. Spanish, University of Washington
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Rachel is a critical educator and a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Mexican American Studies. Her research interests include critical pedagogies, the sociopolitical development of youth of color; the influence of race and ethnicity in urban education; and Critical Race Theory. She is currently researching the effects of youth’s educational experiences on their sociopolitical development, with a particular focus on higher education experiences.
Graduate Research Assistant
Academic Program: Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science
UA email: jmrodas@email.arizona.edu
Degrees: BA, Family and Child Studies, Montclair State University
Hometown: Long Branch, New Jersey
Jose is a second year doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Science Program with a B.A. in Family and Child Studies from Montclair State University. His research interests are societal and cultural influences on family dynamics among Latino families, specifically examining how certain societies and environments alter the relationship between Latino adolescents and their parents. Jose is a National Science Foundation Predoctoral Research Fellow analyzing how the college environment affects the psychological and well-being among Latino college students and how their relationships with their parents have altered overtime. Also, Jose is the Student/New Professional Representative of the Ethnic Minorities Section of the National Council on Family Relations, a top national organization focusing on the interdisciplinary study of families. When Jose is not working, he enjoys attending movie theaters or reading his book collection on English and Russian Literature.
Graduate Research Assistant
Academic Program:
Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies
UA Email: mshramko@email.arizona.edu
Degrees: Master of Public Policy, University of Minnesota; American Studies, Macalester College
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
I am a second year doctoral student working with Dr. Andrea Romero and Dr. Russ Toomey. I am interested in intersectional research on adolescent development, which recently has included discrimination, resilience, and civic engagement. This summer I spent several weeks in Managua, Nicaragua interviewing youth about gendered opportunities and barriers they faced, and how they navigated these. I am also interested in mixed-methods and participatory research and evaluation. First and foremost, I hope to conduct research that centers the lived experiences of young people, and ultimately is useful to them and their communities.
I have a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota. In the Twin Cities, as Research Associate at a youth-focused nonprofit, I supported studies of positive youth development (PYD) in Minnesota and internationally. In particular, I worked closely with international partners to develop and pilot cross-cultural PYD measures for multi-country youth livelihoods development programming in Africa. Prior to this, I have conducted program evaluations with the State of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Family Development, and community-based organizations, as well as working with young people and their families in education and youth programming.
Academic Program: Ph.D. in Human Development & Family Science
UA email: payala1@email.arizona.edu
Degrees: Master’s Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Promotion, University of Arizona, B.S. Psychology, University of Arizona
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Payal is a third-year doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Science Program with a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Promotion from the University of Arizona. Her research interests focus on improving maternal and child health outcomes with a special emphasis on breastfeeding, obesity, physical activity, stress, and sleep. Payal is also interested in community-based participatory research (CBPR) and determining the impact of socio-cultural, geographic location, and socioeconomic factors on health outcomes among individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability (e.g., Down syndrome) and typically developing. Simultaneously, Payal is working as a research assistant for Dr. Jamie Edgin at the University of Arizona Down Syndrome Research Group/Memory Development and Disorders Lab (DSRG/MDD). She currently assists with various projects at the DSRG/MDD including, but not limited, to the Arizona Sweet Dreams Study and a multi-site language study for which she administers the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Alongside her research interests, Payal enjoys giving lectures in undergraduate and graduate courses.
Graduate Research Assistant
Academic Program: Ph.D. in Mexican American Studies
UA email:ghiguera@email.arizona.edu
Degrees: M.A. Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies from the Graduate Center, City University of New York; B.A. Spanish from Arizona State University
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Gabriel Higuera's work is based on praxis, considering that social justice is a process requiring an understanding of the structural dynamics of institutions and an organizational methodology by which inequities are analyzed and acted upon for positive change. In 2015, Gabriel established a project called Collaborative Research in Action (CRiA) as a tool to connect community-based organizations and K-20 educational institutions. Cohorts of university undergraduate students and community college students participate in trainings at social service-providing organizations and institutions of higher education, then facilitate ethnic studies and social justice action research workshops in middle schools and high schools. Platforms for youth voice are established, and connections are made to support the needs of the community. Click here to get more information on the CRiA project:
Contact us
Email: romeroa@email.arizona.edu
Phone: 621-1231
