Email: dml10010@nyu.edu
Program: PhD in Developmental Psychology
Year Entered Program: 2024
Research Interests: immigrant youth development; protective factors; families, schools, community; ethnic-racial identity, belonging, resistance; power dynamics
Principal Advisor(s): Dr. Lauren Mims
Research Description/Bio:
Dulce Maria Lopez Alvarez received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Wake Forest University in 2024. Born in Querétaro, Mexico and raised in North Carolina, Dulce's first-hand experiences inform her passion for understanding the complex ways in which context shapes the immigrant experience. Her work focuses on how intersecting power structures —rooted in race, social class, and gender—impact the identities, resistance practices (civic engagement and more!), and well-being of undocumented youth. Through her research, Dulce aims to challenge dominant narratives and elevate the strengths of undocumented communities, fostering healing and growth. She is passionate about reshaping research to not only better understand the lived experiences of undocumented individuals, but also to advocate for policies that promote their empowerment and social justice.