Julissa is a doctoral candidate in the School Psychology program at UC Berkeley. She was born and raised in Southern California to two hard-working immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador. Julissa completed her undergraduate studies at UC Irvine and graduated with honors with a BA in Psychology and Education Sciences. She later received her MA in Education at UC Berkeley.
Her graduate research broadly examines some of the psychosocial factors linked to students’ academic achievement, including academic self-concept, motivation, expectations, interpersonal relationships, and classroom/school climate. One central question continues to drive her academic work and her practicum experiences: how can schools more effectively support the learning and academic success of student groups that are often overlooked, oppressed, or marginalized within school systems? She has a particular interest in exploring and improving the experiences of Latino immigrant students and families as they navigate complex U.S. school systems.
Julissa is an active member and leader at VIVE Oakland Church. In her free time, Julissa enjoys drawing, painting, being outdoors, playing board games, and trying new food spots with friends.
Specializations and Interests
Teacher Expectations, Parental Involvement, School and Classroom Climate, Race and Education, Educational Equity
