Dr. Esther Calzada

Biography

Esther J. Calzada is an Associate Dean of Research and the Norma Clay Leben Professor at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. As a clinical child psychologist, Dr. Calzada specializes in parenting and early childhood development within Latinx and minoritized families. Her work is driven by a commitment to scientific equity and aims to illuminate systemic injustices, such as race-based discrimination, that impede healthy development. Dr. Calzada’s research focuses on reducing disparities in academic achievement, behavioral issues, and socio-emotional challenges among young children. She has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation, and has published extensively in psychology, educational, and medical journals. In addition to her role at the School of Social Work, she is a faculty affiliate with the Population Research Center and LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, and has previously held leadership positions in equity and inclusion within the college. She also serves on the Governing Council of the Society for Research in Child Development and as a panel member for the National Institutes of Health.

Research Interests

Experience