| Leticia Alvarez Assistant Professor 308J MBH, 587-7811 leticia.alvarez@utah.edu |
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Leticia Alvarez began her professional career as a bilingual middle school teacher and community educator in urban settings. After teaching middle school she earned a Master's degree in Education at Harvard University. Immediately following, she earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and then completed the American Educational Research Association (AERA)/ Institute of Education Sciences (IES) postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Wyoming. During her postdoctoral research fellowship she began to focus her research on understanding Latina(o) immigrant youth's everyday schooling experiences with particular emphasis on social interactions with mainstream youth and adults. Central to Alvarez's research is the identification of influences (both structural and cultural) and everyday experiences with peers and adults (e.g., teachers) that influence the psychosocial factors that contribute to youth's engagement in school and optimize their chances of social and academic success. Her research interests include peer relationships (both intra and inter relationships), youth-adult relationships, identity development and socialization of youth who are Latina/o, immigrant and/or Second Language Learners in U.S. schools and society. Her research is closely linked with issues of immigration, ethnic identity, race, class and gender. Dr. Alvarez's passion centers on making a difference in the everyday lives of marginalized and oppressed youth through relevant research that will benefit the education and socialization of students who are ethnic minorities, immigrants, and/or Second Language Learners.Selected Publications
Alvarez, L. (2007). ¿Derecho u Obligación? Parents' and Youths' Understanding of Parental Legitimacy in a Mexican origin Familial Context. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 5, (29), 192-208. Sage Publications.
Alvarez, L. (Invited Ed.). (2006). Latinas, Latinos and American Education [Special Issue]. Multicultural Perspectives Journal, 8, (1), 1-3. Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers.
Nilles, V., Alvarez, L. & Rios, F. (2006). Preparing Teachers to Work with Second Language Learners. In R. Jimenéz & J. Pang (Eds.), Race, Ethnicity, and Education, Vol. 2 (pp. 39-54). Praeger Publishing.
Quijada, P.D. & Alvarez, L. (2006). Cultivando Semillas Educacionales: Understanding K-8 Latina/o Students. In J. Castellanos, A.M. Gloria & M. Kamimura (Eds.), The Latina/o Pathway to the Ph.D.: Abriendo Caminos (pp. 3-17). Stylus Publishing.