{"id":97,"date":"2018-01-09T15:52:04","date_gmt":"2018-01-09T23:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/champagne\/?page_id=97"},"modified":"2026-05-03T15:15:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T20:15:42","slug":"lab-members","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/lab-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research Team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Principal Investigator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Nneka Ibekwe-Okafor, PhD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

niokafor@utexas.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Nneka Ibekwe-Okafor<\/a> (Dr. O) is an Assistant Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies with courtesy appointments in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. Her interdisciplinary research examines how ecological systems, including family resources, early learning environments, and community conditions, shape the early developmental experiences of Black children. She focuses on how contextual factors support or constrain children\u2019s academic, social, and emotional wellbeing, and how promotive processes within families, classrooms, and communities foster optimal development. Her work bridges developmental science, quantitative methods, and early childhood policy to generate evidence that strengthens early learning systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ibekwe-Okafor received a Ph.D. in Human Development and Quantitative Methods from the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education, an Ed.M. from Harvard University in Prevention Science Research, and a M.S.W. from Columbia University. In her undergraduate studies, she majored in African American Studies and Sociology and was a NCAA Division I volleyball player at the University of California, Davis. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research Operations Manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Ilana Yoon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ilanayoon@utexas.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ilana Yoon graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is currently in her second year of the MSW program at the University of Chicago\u2019s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Ilana is interested in how adapting and embedding mental health supports within youth-serving systems can improve wellness and reduce inequalities. She is particularly interested in the further development of multicultural psychotherapy models and the broader utilization of culturally competent care. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Research Assistants <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Amber Fowler<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Amber Fowler is a third year Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin, in the Early Childhood Education program in the College of Education. Amber is an Austin Texas native and Early childhood educator who taught Kindergarten for 6 years. Amber is interested in racialized school closures and black early childhood experiences. She is also interested in teacher education programs and teacher agency in the classroom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chibuike Kalu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chibuike Kalu is a second year Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin, in the African and African Diaspora Studies Department. He is interested in the social and emotional development of children developing in rural Nigeria. Specifically, exploring the links between caregiver-child attachment, structural barriers, and child outcomes. He hopes to influence local and national development agendas to promote the wellbeing of young children in Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kaeleigh Hernandez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kaeleigh Hernandez is a second-year doctoral student in the Early Childhood Education program at the University of Texas at Austin, in the College of Education. Her research interests focus on educational equity, child care quality, and the cultural assets of children and families, with a particular interest in investigating these issues across various early care and education systems. Informed by her background in early childhood policy and advocacy, Kaeleigh aims to redefine notions of child care quality by critically examining the experiences of multiply marginalized children and families. Through her work, she seeks to highlight the pivotal role early care and education systems and programs play in fostering positive academic, social, and emotional development for young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Undergraduate Research Assistants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Alexandra Parker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Alexandra is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in English with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She is interested in equity and policy research, with a focus on addressing racial disparities in healthcare. An advocate for universal healthcare, she aims to contribute to research that informs policies promoting racial and health equity. She plans to attend law school to become a civil rights attorney, using law and policy to drive systemic change in healthcare and social justice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Isabella Sanchez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Isabella Sanchez is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Government with a minor in English. Isabella is interested in contributing to research that informs social policies, specifically policies that focus on racial inequalities and racial justice in efforts to promote young children\u2019s positive development. She aims to continue contributing to research initiatives that inform social policies, emphasizing the importance of the law as a tool for social change and equity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Kynadi Jones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kynadi Jones is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Entrepreneurship and a certificate in Criminal Law, Justice, and Inequality. She is interested in reducing recidivism and first-time incarceration in Black and Brown populations through policy reform and effective intervention in prisons, communities, and schools. She aims to disrupt the school to prison pipeline by conducting research that leads to effective interventions and policy-level reform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Flida Etchouekang<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flida Etchouekang is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Plan II Honors. She is interested in how anti-vaccine mandates across Southern states shape Black families\u2019 decisions about childhood vaccination and the resulting impacts on Black children\u2019s health and school readiness as they begin primary education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chloe Rouss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chloe Rouss is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business. Her research interests include the psychophysiology of female reproductive health and the emotional and social development of children. She aims to provide research to advocate for individuals misrepresented by public policies, leading to support for those in need. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Zoe Perez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zoe Perez is a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Government. She is interested in research on parental incarceration and its effects on early childhood development, particularly how family separation impacts children\u2019s learning, emotional regulation, and school readiness. She focuses on the disproportionate effects on Black, Brown, and immigrant families and explores policies aimed at alternatives to incarceration and family-centered sentencing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Temi Ojei<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Temi Ojei is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Neuroscience. She is interested in how systemic inequities and environmental stressors influence cognitive development and long-term wellness in marginalized communities. She aims to contribute to research that informs community-based interventions and equitable healthcare policies, bridging clinical neurological research and public health advocacy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Research Scholars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Kam McQueen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kam McQueen (they\/them) graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Psychology and African and African Diaspora Studies. Kam is interested in becoming involved in research on the psychological effects of anti-black discrimination. They are especially interested in addressing the unique problems faced by black people due to systemic and interpersonal racism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Miah Robertson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Miah Robertson is a 2024 graduate from Hampton University, where she received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Leadership Studies. Miah is interested in studying emotional well-being and hidden resilience among minoritized populations, specifically Black children and families, involved in welfare systems. She aims to focus on how strengths-based perspectives in child welfare can inform more equitable and culturally sound social policies. She is particularly interested in how childcare, parenting, and education programs can support families when implemented with equity and cultural relevance. Ultimately, her goal is to contribute to policies and practices that ensure fair distribution of resources and foster resilience, equity, and positive development for minoritized families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Precious Ngwayarudza<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Precious Ngwayarudza is a Developmental Science Ph.D. student in the Human Development and Family Science Department at North Dakota State University. Her research focuses on emotional well-being, personality disorders, and coping strategies among at risk children aged 0 to 10 years. Her goal is to contribute to the development of evidence-based and culturally relevant prevention and intervention programs that enhance the well-being of these children.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lab Alumni<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Joshua Moore<\/strong>, University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ben Walton<\/strong>, University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Science in Psychology 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathanael Tharps<\/strong>, University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Social Work (Social Inequality Health and Policy) 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samridhi Roshan<\/strong>, University of Texas at Austin, Master of Science in Computer Science  2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research Team Principal Investigator Nneka Ibekwe-Okafor, PhD Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin niokafor@utexas.edu Dr. Nneka Ibekwe-Okafor (Dr. O) is an Assistant Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies with courtesy appointments in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. Her interdisciplinary research examines how ecological systems, including family resources, early learning environments, and community conditions, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-97","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"wide-feature":false,"large-landscape":false,"medium-landscape":false,"medium-portrait":false,"small-square":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"laitsadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/author\/laitsadmin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Research Team Principal Investigator Nneka Ibekwe-Okafor, PhD Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin niokafor@utexas.edu Dr. Nneka Ibekwe-Okafor (Dr. O) is an Assistant Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies with courtesy appointments in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. Her interdisciplinary research examines how ecological systems, including family resources, early learning environments, and community conditions,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/97","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97"}],"version-history":[{"count":145,"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/97\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1191,"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/97\/revisions\/1191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.la.utexas.edu\/racelab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}