Directed by Dr. Tina Durand, the VOICE (Valuing Openness, Inclusion, and Critical Education) Lab conducts research on adolescents’ experiences of belonging, identity, and academic engagement, with a focus on how race, ethnicity, and cultural factors shape development. Our projects examine how adolescents navigate opportunities and challenges related to discrimination, cultural socialization, and identity development across school, peer, and community contexts. Building on Dr. Durand’s scholarship, we investigate how these experiences influence critical developmental outcomes such as socioemotional adjustment, school belonging, motivation, and achievement. 

Our goal is to generate research that not only deepens our understanding of adolescent development in diverse cultural contexts but also informs inclusive educational practices and interventions. The VOICE Lab is committed to mentoring emerging scholars who wish to pursue research and practice that center openness, inclusion, and equity in human development.