Current Research
1.5 generation immigrant youth and college-going; mixed methods
Immigrant Youth and College Access (In Progress)
My current research focuses on immigrant students and college access using nationally representative data the follows students from 9th grade to 3 years after high school graduation.
College Choice Among High-Achieving, Low-SES Students (Manuscript Stage)
This research explores the college choice process among students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds (economically disadvantaged, first-generation college-going, or both).
Teacher-Student Racial/Ethnic Congruence (Under Review)
This research examines the impact of teacher-student racial/ethnic congruence (i.e. matching) and the effect of school racial composition on student achievement.
Prior Research
Program Manager - OECD* Study on Social and Emotional Skills (2018-2019)
*Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD)
My prior research experience includes my role as Program Manager where I lead my team (Rice University researchers and Houston Independent School District stakeholders) in the OECD Study on Social and Emotional Skills. Our team represented the United States in the international survey measuring students' socio-emotional skills and gauging the home and school context through parent, teacher, and principal surveys across 10 countries. In Houston—the only city representing the US—I lead the team in surveying about 1,500 students in 32 schools (we obtained an 87% student response rate).
My role involved analyzing survey questions for cultural appropriateness and designing Houston-specific questions. I led the project team, including postdocs, research staff, undergraduate and graduate sociology students, and HERC* directors. I was involved in all levels, including school and student random sampling, recruiting 50 survey administrator volunteers, and conducting training sessions (volunteers, 25 HERC staff, and 32 school staff). I also collaborated and negotiated with school district partners, such as with the Assistant Superintendent of Research and Accountability for the Houston Independent School District and with international partners such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in France and the Australian Council for Education Research in Australia.
Research Analyst - HERC* (2016-2019)
I examined high school students' challenges in navigating their post-secondary educational path, tested a stereotype threat intervention designed to boost students' academic performance, and examined the nuances of students sharing the race/ethnicity of their teacher.
*Houston Education Research Consortium, Rice University