Racial, ethnic, and cultural influences on youth development and family functioning; Racial socialization processes, racial identity development; Prevention of youth problem behavior and promotion of resilience; Culturally relevant and evidenced-based approaches to parenting; Intervention development and community dissemination in diverse cultural contexts
My lab leverages novel methodologies and modern tools (i.e. Ecological Momentary Assessment via smartphone, text message analysis, social media) to better understand the ways in which young people’s social contexts and relationships impact their mental health and risk taking behaviors. We focus closely on the role of parents and the cultural environments within which families are embedded.
Jennifer aims to conduct interdisciplinary, community-engaged research that supports helping professionals working with trauma; focusing trauma-informed intervention and support to the helping professional and improve client outcomes.
My work focuses on teaching and teacher education, community engagement, and language, literacy and culture, particularly with minoritized communities.
My work on social inequalities looks at race and ethnic inequality and relations in k-12 and higher education educational polices (structural) and interactions