Ongoing Research Projects
Our lab investigates the developmental trajectories and psychological adjustment of racial and ethnic minority youth through a strength-based, ecological framework. We examine how adolescents navigate critical developmental tasks—identity formation, autonomy, peer relationships—within contexts shaped by culture, discrimination, and acculturation.
Rather than adopting deficit models, our research identifies protective factors and psychological mechanisms that promote positive development. We study how racial-ethnic socialization, cultural identity, and family processes buffer against discrimination's psychological impact while fostering resilience, self-concept, and adaptive coping strategies.
What drives this work is recognizing that behind every data point is an adolescent developing their sense of self, navigating complex social hierarchies, and building psychological resources for lifelong wellbeing. By integrating developmental theory with applied interventions, we aim to inform evidence-based practices that support healthy psychological development in diverse youth populations.
The Navigating Race Project
We are seeking to understand better the experiences of discrimination faced by Asian and Latinx/Hispanic Americans in both online and in-person contexts. Additionally, the study seeks to study how messages about race that these groups receive from their families, peers, and school environments influence their mental health and well-being.
The Navigating Race Project is a collaborative project with Dr. Melissa Flores, the director of theHealth Equity Analytics Lab (HEAL)at the University of Arizona.
This study is supported by APEX for YOUTH, Korean Community Center (KCC), Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud of Southern Arizona.
The BRIDGE Project
The BRIDGE (Building Racial Identity Dialogue for Generational Empowerment) Project explores how Asian American parents navigate conversations about race and discrimination with their children. As one in four U.S. children grows up in immigrant households, Asian American families face unique challenges—navigating model minority stereotypes while confronting real discrimination that impacts their children's psychological well-being and academic outcomes.
This research will inform evidence-based resources and interventions to support Asian American families in fostering adaptive competencies and positive identity development in their children
The CHILL Project
The CHILL (Climate Health Impact on Learning & Life Outcomes) project is a collaborative study examining how urban heat exposure affects children's educational and psychological outcomes. We investigate the disparate impacts of rising temperatures across communities, focusing on how environmental inequities intersect with academic achievement and youth well-being.
Our interdisciplinary team explores the relationships between neighborhood characteristics, heat exposure, school disruptions, and developmental outcomes to inform interventions that support equitable learning environments for all youth.
AXQ Project
The AXQ Project is a multi-institutional collaborative study examining the experiences of Asian Americans who navigate multiple marginalized identities across racial, sexual, and gender dimensions. Using an intersectionality framework, we aim to capture the complex realities of Asian American sexual and gender minorities (SGM) whose experiences are often overlooked in both LGBTQ+ and Asian American research.
Our work aims to illuminate how these intersecting identities shape developmental outcomes, psychological well-being, and identity formation processes to better support this underserved population.