Elma Lorenzo-Blanco

Lorenzo-Blanco’s research investigates how issues related to culture, ethnicity, gender, family, and media come together to influence the health and well-being of Latina/o youth and families in the U.S. and Latin American countries. Her research is interdisciplinarly in nature and falls within four interrelated research areas: 1) socio-cultural experiences, mental health, and health risk behaviors among Latina/o adolescents and adults 2) gender variation in socio-cultural experiences, mental health, and health risk behaviors among Latina/o adolescents and adults, 3) socio-cultural experiences of Latina/o parents, family processes, adolescent mental health and health risk behaviors, and 4) Latina/o mental health service access and help-seeking. One of Lorenzo-Blanco's longterm goals is to translate her research into social-justice oriented preventive interventions. She is currently working with working with community stakeholders in Austin schools to develop culturally-senstive and developmentally-appropriate preventive interventions for Latina/o youth and families.

More from Dr. Lorenzo Blanco

Growing up as a Hispanic immigrant child in Germany, I have experienced many of the challenges immigrant youth and families experience in the United States. As an immigrant parent in the United States, I understand some of the challenges parents can face when trying to help their children succeed in school, while navigating an educational and cultural system that was foreign to them. I am also the first and only person in my family to attend college and to seek post-graduate education. As such, I am aware of the isolation and challenges underrepresented students can face. I also recognize many of my privileges. These personal experiences, and the various forms of support I have received throughout my life motivate my commitment to the research, teaching, and service that I do.

Student Opportunities

We are conducting a study to survey first-year UT Austin Latinx/Hispanic students. This study's primary aim is to better understand the college experience of incoming Latinx/Hispanic freshmen students at UT Austin as a means to gather data that can inform programs to support Latinx/Hispanic students at UT.

We are focusing on recruiting Freshmen students to take the survey using online recruitment strategies; this includes planning recruitment for the semester, contacting campus groups, and presenting about the project in virtual classes or lectures. Students will also work with UT Qualtrics on data cleaning, data checking, sending compensation to participants, and adapting the survey based on incoming responses. Other responsibilities surrounding the survey may include assisting with literature reviews/searches, contacting participants, and coding qualitative data.

We will also conduct focus groups with Latinx high school students and parents to gather feedback on a family based intervention we are currently developing that focus on coping with prejudice, discrimination, and racism.

We are also currently coding and analyzing data from focus groups on Latinx high school students and their parents experiences with cultural stressors. 

Research assistants will receive training to build their skills in preparation for graduate school. JUNTOS Lab weekly meetings include an informational component where students can develop their presentation skills, learn about current related research, and grow with professional development training. Students will have opportunities to get involved in all stages of the research process.

We are also launching a new mentoring project, connecting UT students with high school students in local high schools.

If interested in participating in this research as a research assistant via course credit or on a volunteer basis, please email elma@utexas.edu.