Melinda Gonzales-Backen has joined PBS as an Associate Professor of Developmental Science and the department’s Associate Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In this newly created position, she will work to grow the department’s strength in Diversity Science and providing leadership around building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Her research program focuses on the interface of ethnicity and adolescent development within cultural and family contexts. Her work is centered on the collective roles of cultural, contextual, and familial processes in the well-being of Latino adolescents and emerging adults.
“My primary research focus is ethnic-racial identity and socialization among Latinx youth and families. I'm interested in how adolescents think about race and ethnicity and how they engage in culture. I'm also interested in how race and ethnicity are talked about within families and how cultural traditions and values are transmitted over generations. My lived experiences strongly influenced my interest in these processes. I'm multiracial—Mexican on my dad's side, and Choctaw and white on my mom's side. Growing up I thought a lot about ethnicity due to social experiences and in college I participated in a summer research program that helped me begin to think about it in an empirical way,” says Gonzales-Backen.
She was drawn to UMass Amherst for the opportunity to participate in meaningful DEI work and continue her impactful research. “One of the most appealing parts about joining PBS at UMass was the opportunity to engage in DEI work within the department and across campus. I had been considering a career transition into DEI administration but decided that it was really important to me that I be able to continue my program of research. In many DEI positions that is not possible, or research time is much more limited than for traditional faculty. My role as Associate Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion allows me to engage in DEI work in a meaningful way while also continuing to grow my program of research.”
When asked what excites her about the next couple of years at UMass, she remarks, “I'm already seeing so many opportunities for my career at UMass in terms of support for research and DEI work. I've also met so many great people already and I look forward to building a community here. Aside from work, I'm excited for fall! I've never lived anywhere with real seasons and being able to experience a New England fall is very exciting.”