​Sandra Simpkins, Ph.D.
PROFESSOR
Sandi, Ph.D. in Psychology, is a professor in the School of Education. She received the William T. Grant Young Scholars Award and National Science Foundation CAREER Award to study how families, friendships, and social position factors (such as, ethnicity and culture) shape adolescents’ organized after-school activities and STEM motivation. She is currently working on research focused on the positive outcomes of youth’s participation in activities as well as the predictors and correlates of high school students’ STEM motivational beliefs. Click here for Sandra's full curriculum vitae.
Fuko Kiyama, Ph.D.
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH SCHOLAR
Fuko is a postdoctoral scholar working with Dr. Sandra Simpkins and Dr. Deborah Lowe Vandell on a Charles Stewart Mott Foundation–funded project examining how participation in organized afterschool activities relates to youths’ social, behavioral, and workforce outcomes. She earned her Ph.D. in Education at the University of California, Irvine, specializing in Human Development in Context, with a graduate emphasis in Asian American Studies. Her recent research examined how culturally responsive program structures and practices in organized activities support youths’ ethnic-racial identity development, with particular attention to Asian American youths’ racial identity ideological values. Click here for Fuko's full curriculum vitae.
Guadalupe Rosas 
DOCTORAL STUDENT
Guadalupe is a doctoral student specializing in Human Development in Context. Her prior experiences working with youth as a college adviser inform her interests in investigating the familial and community strengths that contribute to Latine youth success in and out-of-school. She has been involved in research practice partnership work as a graduate student researcher for the UC Irvine University-Community Links and the fieldwork coordinator for the Certificate in After-school and Summer Education program. In addition, she is interested in exploring ways to support first-generation college students to and through college pathways. Guadalupe identifies as a first-generation college graduate and is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. 
Taylor Michelle Wycoff
DOCTORAL CANDIDATE
Taylor is a doctoral candidate specializing in Human Development in Context.  Her experience working as a teaching artist in San Diego area schools and afterschool programs, as well as working as a research and evaluation specialist for the American Camp Association, inform her interest in increasing access to and inclusion in out-of-school-time (OST) and summertime learning opportunities for historically marginalized youth.  More specifically, through her research, Taylor hopes to investigate the effects of culturally responsive practices in OST and summertime programs on the development of youth from historically marginalized backgrounds. Click here for Taylor's full curriculum vitae.
Miranda G Goldstein
​DOCTORAL STUDENT
​Miranda is a doctoral student specializing in Human Development in Context. Her research centers on understanding how parents and social context shape girls’ and women’s academic motivation and career aspirations in STEM fields. Using quantitative methods, she examines how these factors contribute to students’ academic outcomes and opportunities. Miranda views her work as a means to advance theory on motivation and development while supporting equitable participation in STEM. Click here for Miranda's full curriculum vitae.
Franchesca Quintero
DOCTORAL STUDENT
Franchesca is a doctoral student specializing in Human Development in Context. Her experiences working alongside immigrant-origin, Latine K-12 students have informed her interest in studying the role familial systems from historically marginalized communities play in cultivating students’ academic persistence and resilience. Franchesca is particularly interested in exploring these influences within the Latine community. Through her research, Franchesca hopes to platform Latine voices that will help inform educational practices that will promote the academic success of Latine students.