Embedded Files
Welcome!
Through work with community and school partners, MIEL's mission is to apply interdisciplinary research to gain a better understanding of the psychological and educational needs of students of color and immigrant-origin students. The MIEL's goal is to improve their educational attainment and further equity in education.
Members of MIEL use social, psychological, educational, and interdisciplinary perspectives to understand the diverse experiences of immigrant-origin students and students of color by highlighting their understudied social identities and the cultural strengths they bring to their educational experiences. MIEL’s overarching objective is to conduct rigorous research about the learning experiences of students of color and immigrant-origin students. We focus on their intersectional lived experiences, stigmatization and adaptation, cultural wealth, collective resilience processes, and development as they relate to learning.
Dr. Casanova will be accepting graduate students for Fall 2026. Find out more about the UCSC Psychology graduate program here and the graduate admission requirements here.
We are accepting applications for research assistantships for the 2025-2026 academic year. If you are interested in joining MIEL, please complete the application here.
About Dr. Saskias Casanova
Saskias Casanova is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at UC Santa Cruz. She researches individual and contextual factors relating to students of color and immigrant-origin students' educational experiences. Dr. Casanova examines: 1) how these students’ experiences with stigmatization and discrimination relate to their educational outcomes, and 2) the influence multiple contexts have on students’ social identities. Before joining UCSC, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at NYU’s Applied Psychology Department and as an Assistant Professor of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. Dr. Casanova received her M.A. in Psychology and Ph.D. in Developmental & Psychological Sciences in Education from Stanford University.
2022-2023 Lab News & Accomplishments!
Gloriana Lopez Leon and Dr. Casanova presented their research collaboration about Digital Participatory Methods at the 2023 Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (SQIP) Conference! Alumni Maissoun Hussein, Amir Abu Samaha, and Dr. Casanova presented a poster, Interpersonal Experiences, Strengths, and Barriers for Black Muslim Undergraduates, at the 2023 SQIP Conference!
Valeria Alonso Blanco, alongside Dr. Casanova, presented their work about Transfer Students of Color (TSOC) at UCSC, which is in collaboration with Sara Radoff and Francia Cruz Silva at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Annual Meeting. Diana Garcia, Sydrah Al-Saegh, and Maria Eduarda de Souza Oliveira were co-authors of the presentation. Kunal Agarwal and Alexis Roaf also presented their case study of TSOC STEM v. non-STEM experiences at the SPSSI meeting!
Congratulations to our graduating students!
Jade Goree received the 2023 Outstanding Leader Award from the Psychology Department at UCSC!
Sydrah Al-Saegh received the 2023 Outstanding Researcher Award from the Psychology Department at UCSC and received a Labor Summer Internship through the new UCSC Labor and Community Research Center!
Diana Garcia and Maria Eduarda de Souza Oliveira received the 2023 Dr. Aaronette White Scholarship from the Psychology Department at UCSC!
Gloriana Lopez Leon passed her qualifying exam with honors!
Theresa Bostic, Jade Goree, and Zina Hamrouni received the 2023 Building Belonging Fellowship!
Dr. Casanova received the 2023 Committee on Teaching Excellence in Teaching Award!
Gloriana Lopez Leon and Dr. Casanova presented their research collaboration about Latinx LGBTQ+ young adults and their identity development through digital spaces at the 2023 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood Conference!
Valeria Alonso Blanco, Dr. Casanova, Sara Radoff, and Francia Cruz Silva presented their Transfer Champion Workshop at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE)!
Researchers Valeria Alonso Blanco, Gloriana Lopez Leon, Dr. Melissa Mesinas, Lizette Ruiz, and community partners Sara Radoff and Francia Cruz Silva along with Dr. Casanova formed part of the Cultivating Inclusive Learning Spaces for Latinx Students: Centering Cultural Strengths in Transforming Educational Contexts symposium, at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA)!
Researchers Amir Abu -Samaha, Valeria Alonso Blanco, Sydrah Al Saegh, and Fatima Rosas co-authored a poster with Dr. Casanova presented at the 2023 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Meeting!
The Conexiones Culturales yPAR team presented at the All-In Conference in October 2022!
2021-2022 Lab News & Accomplishments!
Congratulations to our graduating students!
Amir Abu Samaha received the 2022 Outstanding Researcher Award from the Psychology Department at UCSC!
Kim Hatch was accepted to the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) Program for 2022-2023! Kim will receive support and mentorship in applying to graduate school!
Spring 2021 Lab News & Accomplishments!
Congratulations to our graduating students!
Here is a video of Yesenia Vega discussing her time at UCSC and the impact MIEL had on her undergraduate experience!
Alicia Alvarez was accepted to the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) Program for 2021-2022! Alicia will get support and mentorship in applying to graduate school! Alica Alvarez also received the 2021 Special Achievement Award from the Psychology Department at UCSC.
Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 Lab News & Accomplishments!
Alicia Alvarez was accepted into the University of Michigan Psychology Department Diversity Recruitment Weekend!
Gloriana Lopez became a fellow of the CSU The Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP)!
Maissoun Hussein received a UCSC Pan African Research Fellowship (PARF)!
Oscar Licon was accepted into the Pathways to Research Program!
Alicia Alvarez and Arley Aguilar Luna received Building Belonging Fellowships!
Spring 2020 Lab News & Accomplishments!
Yesenia Vega was accepted to the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) Program for 2020-2021! Yesenia will get support and mentorship in applying to graduate school! Yesenia Vega also received the Dr. Aaronette White Scholarship from the Social Psychology Program at UCSC!
Valeria Alonso Blanco was an alternate/honorable mention for the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship!
Congratulations to our graduating students!
Fall 2019 Lab News & Accomplishments!
Alicia Alvarez and Kevin Origel were accepted into the Pathways to Research Program!
Valeria Alonso Blanco received the ALSiNG Graduate Student Research Fellowship and her paper on first-generation college students was accepted to the 2020 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting!
Athena Yates and Yesenia Vega were accepted to the 2019-2020 MINT mentoring program!
Report abuse