Our Team
We are the CMERI Research Team!
Our team is based at the University of Michigan and is comprised of hard-working and talented graduate and undergraduate students led by primary investigator, Victoria Vezaldenos. We are motivated by our curiosity to learn more about ethnic-racial identity development and our shared commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Together we are brainstorming innovative research ideas, connecting with multiracial student organizations across the U.S., and processing loads of data. We operate within the CASA lab and work closely with their research staff to achieve our common goals. Read more about our team members below!
Victoria Vezaldenos - Primary Investigator
Victoria Vezaldenos is a Doctoral student at the University of Michigan in the Combined Program for Education and Psychology and is leading the Critical Multiracial Ethnic-Racial Identity Project with the support of her Ford Predoctoral Fellowship. She is a first-generation college student from Manteca, CA. She majored in Psychology and minored in Education Studies at UCLA before earning an M.A. in Education Studies and M.S. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. As a biracial (Mexican and White) woman herself, this work is not only contributing to a gap in the field, but also is a way of exploring her own lived experiences.
Twitter: @VVezaldenos | LinkedIn
Brooklin Flaugher - Research Assistant
Brooklin Flaugher is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Religion. As an Asian American, she looks forward to being involved in and contributing to an area of research that is exciting and interesting to her while also having the opportunity to build new connections. Outside of her studies, Brooklin enjoys spending time with her family and friends and visiting local cafes.
Instagram: brooklinflaugher
Sophia Grewal - Research Assistant
Sophia Grewal graduated from the University of Michigan with a psychology degree and plans to pursue higher education by obtaining a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She is volunteering her experiences in Intergroup relations and DEI to the Critical Multiracial Ethnic-Racial Project to help contribute to research surrounding these topics. She acknowledges her positionality as a Pakistani American and utilizes her identity and experiences to help her navigate research in a receptive manner.
Yasmeena Jones - Research Assistant
Yasmeena Jones is a Junior from Baltimore, Maryland, double majoring in Psychology and Sociology of Health and Medicine. She intends to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Health. As a biracial and Muslim student the work in this lab can add some insight into her own life while contributing to needed research and policies in the academic field. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and especially her cat.
Christian Loza - Research Assistant
Christian Loza is an Undergraduate at the University of Michigan studying Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience as well as Sociology who is a member of the Critical Multiracial Ethnic-Project at the CASA lab. He is a first- generation college student from Chicago, IL. As a Mexican man poised to make strides in diversity and inclusion, he will continue his commitments as he pursues a graduate school education in the future.
Cole Nogawa - Research Assistant
Former Research Assistants
Natalia Morato - 2023-2024
Serena Hao - 2023-2024
Interested In joining our research team? Fill out the interest form below!
No research experience necessary. Remote work OK.