Lorenzo-Blanco’s research investigates how issues related to culture, ethnicity, gender, family, and media come together to influence the health and well-being of Latina/o youth and families in the U.S. and Latin American countries. One of Lorenzo-Blanco's longterm goals is to translate her research into social-justice oriented preventive interventions. She is currently working with working with community stakeholders in Austin schools to develop culturally-senstive and developmentally-appropriate preventive interventions for Latina/o youth and families.
My name is Kimberly (Kim) Henriquez and I am a first-year graduate student. I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2017 where I majored in Psychology and minored in Anthropology. My time as an undergraduate student solidified my research interests around understanding how cultural factors influence developmental psychopathology within Latinx adolescents and how these findings may be used to shape and disseminate culturally-sensitive evidence-based interventions. Thus, joining the JUNTOS lab and being able to work with Dr. Lorenzo-Blanco was a perfect fit. During my free time, I love to play online games with friends, watch fantasy movies, and explore places to eat.
Hi y'all, I'm Isabella (she/her)! I am a recent graduate with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences from UT Austin (CO 2022). Currently, I am serving as the project coordinator for the JUNTOS Lab after spending 3 or so years as an RA with the lab. If someone were to ask me what my favorite part about my college experience was, I would have to say JUNTOS. I decided to join Project JUNTOS my freshman year as an effort to explore a research interest of mine, which is the parenting practices of Latinx Immigrant families in the US. I am very grateful to have had Dr. Lorenzo-Blanco and Kim advise me on my senior honors thesis that covers the very research interest that I entered the lab with (ask me about how to get involved with the Lab for your thesis!). The environment in JUNTOS is so friendly and inclusive, one of the major reasons why I chose JUNTOS. When I'm not working for the lab, you can find me at the ESB-Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB MACC). At the MACC, I lead a youth arts internship, ATX Caminos, alongside one of our research assistants, Nil! Other than that, I am interested in the arts, house plants, camping, and the beautiful nature that Texas has to offer. Welcome to our lab!
Hello, my name is Karla (she/her)! I’m a recent graduate of UT Austin with a B.S. in Psychology and certificate from the Bridging Disciplines Program in Children and Society; I was also part of the Liberal Arts Honors program. I’ve always had an interest in how societal factors influence personal experiences, especially when it comes to children and youth, as well as shaping educational services to really serve students and meet their individual needs. During my time at UT, I served as a Project Coordinator for Dr. Su Yeong Kim’s Project SEED, a Teaching Assistant for Reacting to the Past, and worked with organizations such as Girlstart and Students Expanding Austin Literacy (SEAL) to support the educational experiences of Austin-area youth. I also took part in the Archer Fellowship Program and interned with Congressman Joaquin Castro in Washington, D.C., which aligned very well with my interest in policy and was a wonderful experience in the country’s capital. I was so excited to return to Austin after graduation, and the JUNTOS Lab was a great fit to combine my interests and passions! I love to travel, explore new outdoor places, cook and try new foods, listen to music, and (re)discover new and old cinema.
Research Assistants
We are so grateful for all of our current and past research assistants!
See below to learn a little bit more about them.
My name is Sabrina Reyes and I am a biology major in the class of 2025! I’ve lived in Texas my whole life and have always had a passion for research, marginalized groups and combating prejudices and biases in many fields. I am currently on the pre-med track and I hope to become a surgeon or an OB/GYN. I’m also involved in WIM and UT Catalyst here on campus! In my free time, I love to craft, color, bake, watch TV, enjoy music, and thrift shop.
Hi! I'm currently a biology major with a history minor in the class of 2025. I'm originally from Houston, TX and grew up in a large latinx community which drew me to the focus of this lab. I'm passionate about understanding health inequity in our world and currently i'm co-Team Coordinator for the Partners in Health Engage chapter on the UT campus. I hope to eventually work in the pediatrics and help advocate for better healthcare access in the US and abroad. Outside of school, I love to dance, read, and bake for my friends!
Hello! I’m Nilmarie (Nil for short) and I use they/she pronouns. I’m a First-gen, eldest daughter of 5 siblings, Mexican-Honduran-American studying Communication Design Major and CompSci Minor at Texas State University. I participated in an early college program in high school that made it possible for me to earn an Associates Degree in General Studies from ACC, a Certification in Engineering Technology and my high school diploma in ‘21/’22 and (hopefully) graduate from TXST in 2025 instead of ‘26. I interviewed the JUNTOS Lab’s Project Coordinator (Isabella Hernandez) and created a booklet about her experience with the program as part of a final project for my Fall Semester at TXST. Amazingly, it led to me getting the opportunity to work with the Lab as an RA specializing in Graphic/Website Design 🙂 I’m ever grateful to be a part of this lab and the values it upholds. I know I'm lucky to be able to say I’m working on something I care about and is impactful so early on in my career as a designer, thank you JUNTOS! (It’s already smo much fun).
My name is Faroha Khan (she/her/ella). I am currently a UT undergrad majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Educational Psychology, and I am very excited to be part of the JUNTOS team! I am originally from Houston. I am a first-generation college student. As a result, I am extremely interested in topics related to mental health and resources for first-generation students. Additional research areas that fascinate me are developmental and educational psychology. My future career goals include research, healthcare, and academia. I hope to contribute and learn a lot as part of the team. In my free time, I love reading, listening to music, and learning new languages.
Hi! My name is Jennifer and I am a psychology major on the pre-med track in the class of 2025. I am originally from Venezuela, but I grew up in Australia before moving to the United States. Since I moved around various cities and countries, I became interested in the cultural stressors and challenges Hispanic/Latinx immigrants face. In the future, I hope to work as a psychiatrist and lessen the barriers to mental health treatments in Hispanic/Latinx communities. In my free time, I watch F1, listen to music, and go to concerts.
Hello! I'm Roman Garza, a third-year Human Development and Family Sciences Major from McAllen, Texas, proudly representing the 956. As a first-generation Mexican-American, my passion lies in advocating for issues that impact underrepresented communities, particularly in empowering Latinx youth and addressing systemic barriers in education and social services. I'm committed to creating supportive environments where people have access to equitable opportunities and resources necessary for their success.
My name is Emma Garcia-Castells and I am a senior in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin, where I am majoring in Applied Learning and Development focusing on Bilingual Education EC-6th, along with a certificate in Public Policy. In the future, I aspire to pursue my dream of ensuring quality and equitable education for all students. I firmly believe that education is not confined by borders and is essential for fostering positive societal change. During my free time, I enjoy reading, exercising, volunteering, and listening to music.
Hi! My name is Micaela, and I am a Public Health major in the Class of 2025 at UT Austin! Apart from my degree, I am also working towards earning a certificate in Spanish for Health Care Professions and Business Spanish. I'm from a small town about an hour north of Dallas called Denison, Texas. As a first generation Mexican American and college student, I value the importance of helping the Latinx/Hispanic community since there were a lack of resources while I was growing up, so I am beyond excited to be a part of JUNTOS. Additionally, during my downtime, I enjoy working out, going on long runs, doing puzzles, cooking, and live music!
Hi all! My name is Fatima, and I am a third-year Psychology major here at UT who is super excited to be a part of this lab! I am particularly excited to be a part of this lab because, being Hispanic myself, I understand the disparities and difficulties that members of the Latinx community often encounter. The opportunity to contribute to research that can make a tangible difference in our community is amazing. A little about me is that I love reading (mostly non-fiction books), painting, and watching all different kinds of movies. I love to go on runs, especially with my two dogs, and I enjoy pretty much anything outdoors. Also, I am looking forward to working and learning with everyone!
Hello! My name is Madison and I am a third-year double majoring in Race, Indigeneity, and Migration and Mexican American Studies. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. I have always been passionate about serving undeserved communities and with this, I hope to pursue a career in human rights and social justice. In my free time I love lifting, running, finding new music and being with my cats.
Hi! My name is Natalia Pastor Navarro. I'm a Human Development and Family Science major, graduating in 2027. I was born in Mexico City but immigrated to the U.S. at a young age. As an immigrant myself, I've witnessed the challenges many members of the Latinx community face, which is why I'm dedicated to participating in JUNTOS. Though I've spent most of my life in Dallas, Texas, I've been loving my time in Austin! My aspiration is to become a Pediatric Dermatologist after attending medical school, with a focus on serving underrepresented communities like the Latinx community.'
Hello all! My name's Gaby and a current Junior at UT Austin studying BS in Psychology. I'm originally from San Antonio but have been calling Austin my home for the past 7 years. I'm so exited to be apart of the JUNTOS lab as I get to honor my Mexican heritage while also pursing science. The opportunity to be around so many likeminded people who genuinely want to see the Latin American community thrive is a blessing in itself. Some of my hobbies outside of school are hiking around the country and discovering new coffee/tea spots wherever I go!
Graduates and Past RAs
We also want to thank all of the JUNTOS RAs who have graduate from UT to pursue their career paths. To learn more about their experience in the lab, click here!