Carlos Rivera Bernabé (he/him) is a doctoral student in the School Psychology Program at the University of California, Berkeley, under advisement of Dr. Frank C. Worrell.
Prior to Berkeley, he received his bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California with a minor in Education and Society. While at USC, he worked as a research assistant at the Center for Education, Identity, and Social Justice, contributing extensively to empower low-income middle school and college students of color in STEM through culturally responsive mentorship.
His research centers on identifying effective frameworks and strategies to support immigrant and multilingual youth. Specifically, he is interested in how academic achievement and motivation (particularly in reading) emerge alongside socioemotional processes and within the broader contexts of risk and resilience that shape these students’ mental health. Through this, Carlos aims to improve how schools identify and address both academic and socioemotional needs, deliver culturally responsive mental health services, and cultivate the talents of multilingual learners so they can thrive holistically.
He is especially passionate about examining language as a cornerstone of cultural identity and exploring the experiences of students who speak minority languages within systems that often undervalue these linguistic resources. His work also seeks to engage families as partners and advocates within educational systems, promote literacy development across languages, and ensure that all children and their families feel capable, empowered, and seen.
Carlos is from Los Angeles, a first-generation college student, and a proud immigrant from El Salvador.
Specializations and Interests
Multilingual Learners / English Language Learners (ELLs); Literacy Development; Immigrant Risk and Resilience; Family–School Partnerships; Culturally Responsive Practice
