CREAR Lab

About Us

Welcome I'm Dr. Medrano, a developmental psychologist committed to examining how youth and women exposed to violence make sense of, survive, and resist trauma in their daily lives. I serve as Director of the CREAR Lab and Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. My research focuses on polyvictimization, gender based violence, and structural inequalities, with an emphasis on resilience processes.

Increasingly my research also focuses on the intersection of multiple marginalized identities examining how race and ethnicity, gender, class, and rurality shape experiences of trauma and healing. In my free time you can find me with my three boys Alfredo 16, Adrian 16, and Mateo 4 and our beautiful cat Teddy. We are often setting up movie marathons or bingeing new TV series together.

Andrea S. Medrano, Ph.D.

Welcome! I'm Dr. Medrano, a developmental psychologist committed to examining how youth and women exposed to violence make sense of, survive, and resist trauma in their daily lives. I serve as Director of the CREAR Lab and Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. My research focuses on poly-victimization, gender-based violence, and structural inequalities, with an emphasis on resilience processes.

I lead international, community-engaged studies across Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and the U.S., using mixed methods to ensure that voices and data inform our work. Through the CREAR Lab, I mentor a powerhouse team of undergraduate and graduate students—primarily women and scholars of color—who share a passion for equity-driven research.

Our Values

The CREAR Lab is made up of passionate researchers committed to promoting the well-being of youth and families of color through a strengths based approach. We value the diversity of lived experiences and work actively to make the lab an inclusive, accessible, and collaborative space.

We foster mutual support, open communication, and respect. Our commitment is to train ethical, rigorous researchers who contribute to transformative knowledge and professional growth through research and mentorship.