Andrea S. Medrano, PhD

My studies span developmental stages—from early adolescence to older adulthood (ages 11 to 65)—and are rooted in international, community-engaged work. I lead projects in:

• Honduras, focusing on gender-based violence and post-traumatic growth (HAVE-HOPE);

• Mexico, exploring academic socialization, community violence, dating violence, sexual harassment, and rural and urban mental health (Fortaleza Mexicana, MAPI Study, Proyecto VENCER);

• Puerto Rico, examining emerging adult recovery and identity development in the context of interpersonal and structural violence (STAR*PR, PRIDE);

• Nicaragua (forthcoming), centering Afro-descendant and Indigenous women’s empowerment in the aftermath of gender-based violence;

• and urban U.S. settings, where I investigate community violence, sexual harassment, school belonging, and mental health among Latina/o adolescents.

Methodologically, I use diverse and inclusive approaches, including cross-sectional and longitudinal statistical analyses, qualitative interviews and focus groups, and mixed methods designs. This multi-pronged approach ensures my work reflects both the measurable trends and lived realities of those most impacted by violence. At its core, my research is deeply collaborative and trauma-informed, aiming to inform equitable policy and practice while amplifying community strengths. I believe research can—and should—be both rigorous and transformative.

Publications

^Indicates co-first authorship; *Indicates Undergraduate or Post-Bacc student, +Graduate Student Mentee

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Medrano, A. S., & Ceballo, R. (2025). Neighborhood violence, parent–child cohesion, and psychological outcomes in Latinx adolescents: A longitudinal moderation analysis. Psychology of Violence. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000604

+Ganu, D., Starks, B., +Davila, S. A., & Medrano, A. S. (in press). Campus climate and the mental health of college student caregivers: The mediating role of group belonging. Journal of College of Student Development.

Cross, F. L., Hoffman, A. J., Medrano, A. S., Medina, M. A., Esqueda, A. P., & Rivas-Drake, D. (in press). Fostering futures: Academic socialization and perceived educational utility among Latinx parent-adolescent dyads. Journal of Latinx Psychology.

*Davila, S. A., *Martinez, A., & Medrano, A. S. (2025). Navigating familial and economic stressors: Examining resilience and cohesion as protective factors for rural Mexican adolescents. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000754 

Sabina, C., Mariscal, S. E., Weber, M., Medrano, A. S., Flores, Y., Agorde, E., Elliot, J. M., Gonzalez, V. V., & Restrepo-Ruiz, M. (2025). Factors enhancing resilience among youth exposed to macro-level violence in Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 26(2), 265–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248/1358204283481032049130795375 

Medrano, A. S., +Davila, S. A., +Labrousse, D., *Adame Montelongo, E. S., & Williams, E.-D. G. (2025). Disentangling machismo and caballerismo: Mental health help-seeking in rural Mexico. Journal of Rural Mental Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000291 

^Garcia, Y., ^Medrano, A. S., & Woods, V. (2024). Perceived stigma, mental health, and campus support among Latina/o and White college students. Journal of American College Health, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2428408

Kia-Keating, M., Santacrose, D., Adams, J., Harms, M., Taghavi, I., Liu, S., & Mora, A. (2024). Equitable prevention science and participatory co-design of the HEROES strength-based programs. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320770241246672 

Mora, A. S., Gutiérrez, L. M., & Ceballo, R. (2024). The role of parent-adolescent communication among youth exposed to neighborhood violence in rural Mexico. Families in Society, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894231222942

Krings, A., Mora, A. S., *Bechara, S., Sánchez, C., Gutiérrez, L. M., Hawkins, J., & Austic, E. (in press). How early social work faculty experienced support in their doctoral programs. Journal of Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2023.2279789

Mora, A. S., *LoDuca, K. M., & Ceballo, R. (2023). Adolescents in the community: Extracurricular activities and sexual harassment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52, 1788–1798. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01812-8 

Mora, A. S., Muñoz-Velázquez, J., Alers-Rojas, F., Ceballo, R., & Cranford, J. (2023). Understanding Latino adolescents’ experiences with discrimination: An intersectional approach. Journal of Latinx Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000234

Mora, A. S., *Greer, C. D., *Hunter, J., & Gutierrez, L. (2022). Social work faculty attitudes towards diversity and oppression content in the MSW curricula. Social Work Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2022.2130233

Ceballo, R., Alers-Rojas, F., Mora, A. S., & Cranford, J. A. (2022). Exposure to community violence: Toward a more expansive definition and approach to research. Child Development Perspectives, 16(2), 96–102. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12448

Mora, A. S., Ceballo, R., & Cranford, J. (2022). Latino/a adolescents facing neighborhood dangers: An examination of community violence and gender-based harassment. American Journal of Community Psychology, 69(1–2), 18–32. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12556

Ortega, R. M., Olawale, R. G., Mora, A. S., (2022). Charles D. Garvin: Social justice and social group work. Social Work with Groups, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2022.2113247

Gutierrez, L., Rodriguez-Newhall, A., Mora, A. S., Areguin, M. A., & Salazar, M. (2019). “Too many to count”: Experiences of microaggressions for Latinx students at a predominantly white institution in the age of Trump. Currents, 1(1), 50–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/currents.17387731.0001.105

Book Chapters & Other Publications

Medrano, A. S., Ortega, R., Cordova, D., & Gutierrez, L. (in press). Employing an empowerment approach with Latinx youth engaged in health risk behaviors. In R. Ceballo & D. Rivas-Drake (Eds.), Growing up Latinx in the land of liberty: Drawing on community and culture to face contextual challenges. Oxford.

Ceballo, R., Alers-Rojas, F., Montoro, J. P., & Mora, A. S. (2020). Contextual stressors and the role of religion and spirituality in the mental health of Latino/a immigrant parents and youth. In G. C. Nagayama Hall & E. R. Huang (Eds.), Mental and behavioral health of immigrants in the United States. Academic Press, Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816117-3.00007-5

Starks, B. & Mora, A. S. (2021). In the margins of academe: Balancing intersecting positionalities as mothers of color in graduate school. Women, Gender, and Families of Color. https://womengenderandfamilies.ku.edu/uncategorized/crosstalk/in-the-margins-of-academe-balancing-intersecting-positionalities-as-mothers-of-color-in-graduate-school

Mora, A., Kia-Keating, M., Liu, S., & Capous, D. (2017). Utilization of campus resources among Latino/a students: A mixed methods approach. UCSB McNair Scholars Research Journal, 7, 1–25. https://mcnair.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/sitefiles/journals/2017%20Volume7McNairScholarsResearchJournal.pdf

Selected Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations

*Undergraduate, **Post-Bacc, or +Graduate Student Mentee 

+Medina, C. M., *Hudson, J. A., *Geoffroy, G., Harvey, A., & Medrano, A. (2024). “Las mujeres sufren acoso...los hombres no”: Adolescent Perceptions and Discussions of Gender-Based Violence in Rural Mexico. Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD): Toward an Anti-Racist Developmental Science Summit, Panama City, Panama. (Poster). 

*Davila, S. A., *Dupree, F., *Vazquez, Y., & Medrano, A. (2024). Aprendizajes: Conducting Ethically Responsible Research with Children and Adolescents in Rural Mexico. Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD): Toward an Anti-Racist Developmental Science Summit, Panama City, Panama. (Poster). 

+Labrousse, D., +Medina, C. M., & Medrano, A. (2024). Centering Mexican Strength: An Overview of Proyecto VENCER. Latinx Connect, University of Pittsburgh. (Lightning Talk) 

Gutierrez, L., Mora, A. (Discussant), Ortega, D., & Ortiz, L. (2023). Uncovering and Recovering Latinx Perspectives on Social Work History—A Latcrit (Latino Critical Race Theory) Approach. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 28th Annual Conference, Washington, DC. (Roundtable) 

Mora, A. (chair), Gutierrez, L., *Garcia, Y., +Bechara, S., *Harvey, A., *Zou, Y., *Fajardo, M., *Garcia-Leco, S., & *Valdivias, S. (2023). Fortaleza Mexicana: Identifying Strengths & Protective Factors in Families in Rural Mexico. International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS), Brussels, Belgium. (Symposium) 

*Garcia-Leco, S., Mora, A., *Harvey, A., & Gutierrez, L. (2023). “Que le eché ganas”: Parental Academic Expectations in Rural Mexico. Latin American Studies Association (LASA) 2023 Congress, Vancouver, Canada. (Paper) 

Mora, A., +Pérez, J., +Garcia, Y., *Ibrahim, A., +Bechera, S., Gutierrez, L., & *Hunter, J. (2023). Social Work Faculty Perceptions of Theories: A National Survey. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 27th Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ. (Poster) 

Gutierrez, L., Mora, A., +Bechera, S., Hawkins, J., Krings, A., Meier Austic, E., & Sanchez, C. (2022). Early Career Scholars’ Perceptions of Support During Social Work Doctoral Education. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 68th Annual Program Meeting, Anaheim, California. (Paper) 

Mora, A., *Harvey, A., +Bechera, S., *Narvaez, M., & Gutierrez, L. (2022). The Role of Parent-Adolescent Communication among Violence-Exposed Mexican Youth. The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2022 Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Symposium) 

Mora, A., +Pérez, J., *Ibrahim, A., *Hunter, J., *Wasi, H., & Gutierrez, L. (2021). MSW Faculty Views Towards Racial and Social Justice. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 67th Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, Florida. (Panel) 

*Harvey, A., *Valdivias, O., Mora, A., +Garcia, Y., & Gutierrez, L. (2021). Rape Myths and Machismo: Rural Mexican Parents’ Conceptualizations of Sexual Harassment and Rape. National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA) Biennial Virtual Conference. (Poster) 

Gutierrez, L., Mora, A., Meier-Austic, E., +Greer, C., & +Inahuazo, S. (2021). Social Work Faculty Attitudes Toward Diversity and Social Justice. Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Virtual Conference. (ePoster) 

Mora, A., Starks, B. & Starks, A. (2020). Post-migration Stressors: Violence, Poverty, and Culturally Relevant Interventions for Recent Immigrants. Joint World Conference on Social Work Education and Social Development, Rimini, Italy. (Poster; Cancelled for COVID) 

Muñoz-Velazquez, J., Alers-Rojas, F., Mora, A., Cranford, J., & Ceballo, R. (2020). Intersectional Everyday Experiences of Discrimination: An Exploratory Latent Class Analysis with Urban Latinx Adolescents. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Special Topics Conference, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Paper presentation; Cancelled for COVID) 

+Cross, K., Mora, A., Sypher, I., Esqueda, A. P., Troncoso, S. (2020). Adolescents in the community: Extracurricular activities and gender-based harassment. American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention, Washington, DC. (Poster) 

Glover-Reed, B., Mora, A., Giza, K. A. & Baughman, M. (2019). Using Critical and Intersectionality Frames to Illuminate New Possibilities: We’re Part-way There!. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 65th Annual Program Meeting, Denver, CO. (Panel) 

Montoro, J. & Mora, A. (2019) Familismo as a Protective Factor from Stressors Faced by Latinx Adolescents. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD. (Poster) 

Mora, A., Areguin, M. A. & Rodriguez-Newhall, A. (2019). Utilizing Action Research to Promote Student-Oriented Policy. The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2019 Conference, San Diego, CA. (Symposium) 

Gutierrez, L., Areguin, M. A., Mora, A., Rodriguez-Newhall, A. & Salazar, M. (2019). Actions Speak Louder Than Words: How Mixed-Methods Action Research Promotes Student-Oriented Policy. International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS), Paris, France. (Symposium) 

Mora, A., Fike, K., & Montoro, J. (2018). Community Violence Exposure and Sexual Harassment Effects on Latino/a Adolescents. The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2018 Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. (Symposium) 

Woods, V., Phommasa, M., Mora, A., & Garcia M. G. (2017). Development and Assessment of a Transfer Student Mentorship Program. National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA. (Panel) 

Mora, A., Kia-Keating, M., Capous, D., Adams, J., Davila, L., Garcia, Y. (2016). Latino/a Parental Barriers to Help-Seeking. National Latina/o Psychological Association (NLPA) Biennial Conference, Orlando, FL. (Poster)