Dr. Norma Perez-Brena is an Associate Professor of Family Studies and Human Development in the Norton School of Ecology at the University of Arizona. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Developmental Psychology from San Francisco State University, and a Ph.D in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University. She is a first-generation immigrant from Mexico. She is passionate about mentoring students and empowering communities in support of promoting equity, inclusion, and justice. Areas of Expertise Latinx adolescent and young adult development Family and cultural processes Sociocultural contexts of risk and resilience Culturally responsive program design and evaluation Research Focus Dr. Perez-Brena's primary interests lie in understanding the combination of social (e.g., income, education), cultural (e.g., values, norms, acculturation, language use), and personal (e.g., self-esteem, conflict management skills) characteristics that promote Latinx adolescent and young adult adjustment during key developmental and family transitions. Her work is centered on two key areas: the negotiation of family relationships across development (e.g., parent-child, romantic partners), and the impacts of culture across the life-span. Dr. Perez-Brena has experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative longitudinal research. She also has nearly 10 years of applied research experience, serving as Director of Evaluation for a large southwest non-profit organization, and as Director of a coparenting, relationship, and life skills education program serving adolescent parents.