I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at Texas A&M University. My research centers on understanding the political lives of Latinos and other minoritized groups in the United States. I am specifically interested in public opinion as it relates to racial and ethnic relations and the role these dynamics play in shaping public policy debates.

My dissertation contributes to the study of intergroup relations and the socio-political determinants of group cohesion. I examine how racial identity and racial appearance condition Latino political solidarity. I specifically test how Latinos’ attachment to White identity influences their support for policies and social movements that directly shape the lives of Black and White Americans, as well as immigrants in the U.S.

Outside of my dissertation, I am currently developing experimental work that examines how race-related expectations of professionalism inform elite communication and candidate evaluations. I am also a part of ongoing projects related to country of origin and voting behavior among Latinos. This work has expanded my research interests to the study of Latin American political attitudes. Lastly, I am passionate about pursuing research that highlights the political experiences of immigrant laborers in the U.S.

I am a first-generation Texan and the daughter of immigrants from Aguascalientes, Mexico. I am also a first-generation college graduate and hold a Master’s of Public Administration with an emphasis in Policy Analysis and a B.A. in Political Science from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M.