Biography and education
Dr. Melissa Garcia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and an affiliated faculty member for the Minor in Latino Studies at Texas State University. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology at Indiana University, Bloomington, a M.A. in Sociology from the University of Memphis, and B.A. in International Studies/Anthropology (Latin American focus) from Southwestern University.
Research Interests
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Smith, N. C., Brooks, C. V., Ekl, E., Ambriz, D., Garcia, M. J., Maupome, G., & Perry, B. L. (2024). The Informal Safety Net: Social Network Activation among Hispanic Immigrants during COVID-19. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 10(3), 371–388.
- 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. Journal of Marriage and Family, 85(5), 1028–1046.
- 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. Social Psychology Quarterly, 86(3), 357–378.
- 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. Social Psychology Quarterly, 85(4), 374–385.
- 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. The Journal of Higher Education, 84(4), 569–600.
Featured service activities
- Chair
Nina Vaca-Humrichouse Scholarship Committee
- Member
Rubric Review Committee (RRC)
- Chair
Latino Studies Advisory Council
- Member
Introduction to Sociology Assessment Committee
- Chair
Latina/o/x Studies Association (LSA)
- Member
Presidential Award Nominations (PAN) Committee