Professor Dr. Elma Lorenzo Blanco

Biography

Elma Lorenzo-Blanco is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on the intersections of culture, ethnicity, gender, family, and media, particularly concerning the health and well-being of Latina/o youth and families in the United States and Latin American countries. Lorenzo-Blanco's work spans four interrelated areas: cultural experiences and mental health in Latina/o adolescents and adults, gender variations in socio-cultural experiences affecting health, and parental influences on adolescent mental health and health risk behaviors. She aims to develop social-justice-oriented preventive interventions by collaborating with community stakeholders to create culturally sensitive approaches. Having grown up as a Hispanic immigrant child in Germany, she is acutely aware of the challenges faced by immigrant families. She has a strong commitment to understanding and supporting underrepresented students through her research and mentoring projects. Lorenzo-Blanco strives to prepare her students for graduate studies by involving them in comprehensive research processes and community-based projects aimed at addressing cultural stressors and promoting resilience among youth. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Women's Studies from the University of Michigan, where she completed an APA Pre-doctoral Clinical Internship.

Research Interests

Awards