Faculty Profile for Dr. Melissa Janet Garcia
Biography Section
Biography and Education
Broadly, my research and specialties are at the intersection of immigration, race and ethnicity, higher education, and Latinx Sociology. My research uses various qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, archival methods, and ethnographic observations, to conduct research that aims to address social inequalities.The broader focus of my research examines the social inequalities ethnoracial groups face and how intersecting statuses shape within group differences, as well as how these groups build community. My research examines three main interrelated areas: 1) the experiences of students of color in higher education, 2) immigrant wellbeing, and 3) immigrant perceptions of discrimination.
Selected Scholarly/Creative Work
- Garcia, M. J., Brooks, C. V., Ambriz, D., Smith, N. C., Maupome, G., & Perry, B. L. (2023). Pandemic precarity: COVID-19’s impact on Mexican and Central American immigrants.
- Adem, M., Rao, S., Marrow, H. B., Garcia, M. J., & Okamoto, D. G. (2023). A Relational Approach to Perceived Discrimination: The Case of Asian Indians.
- Smith, N. C., Brooks, C. V., Ekl, E., Ambriz, D., Garcia, M. J., Maupome, G., & Perry, B. L. (2023). The Informal Safety Net: Social Network Activation among Hispanic Immigrants during COVID-19.
- Marrow, H. B., Okamoto, D. G., Garcia, M. J., Adem, M., & Tropp, L. R. (2022). Skin Tone and Mexicans’ Perceptions of Discrimination in New Immigrant Destinations.
- Lowe, M. R., Byron, R. A., Ferry, G., & Garcia, M. J. (2013). Food for Thought: Frequent Interracial Dining Experiences as a Predictor of Students’ Racial Climate Perceptions.