Emely Lugo

Emely N. Lugo (she/ella) is a third-year doctoral student in the School Psychology Program at UC Berkeley’s School of Education (BSE).

Before joining BSE, Emely studied Psychology and Child Development at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), where her research examined the efficacy of computerized cognitive training in strengthening cognitive skills, including working memory, flexibility, and processing speed. She also investigated how motivation shapes the effectiveness of these interventions for at-risk K-12 students.

Building on this foundation, Emely’s current research investigates how immigrant experiences shape cognitive processes — attention, executive functioning, and motivation — and how these processes influence learning, behavior, and access to school-based support services. Additionally, guided by disability critical race theory (DisCrit) and intersectionality theory, her work explores how systemic inequities and intersecting identities, such as undocumented, newcomer, unaccompanied, and/or disabled, impact a student’s educational experiences. As a practitioner, Emely prioritizes understanding best practices for supporting bilingual Spanish-speaking students and continues to grow her skills as a culturally and linguistically responsive practitioner.

In her free time, Emely enjoys spending time with her pup and exploring new hiking or camping spots across the Bay Area.