Biography
I grew up in San Diego, California and was the first person in my family to attend college. Being the daughter of a Mexican mother and an American father gave me insight into differences in "ways of being" between cultures and racial groups. As an undergraduate at UCLA I majored in psychology and sociology in order to academically explore these experiences. Although college was a culture shock I found great professors and graduated in 2004 magna cum laude. As a huge fan of pop culture I went to graduate school for a PhD in social psychology at Stanford University to study the psychological processes that form our attitudes toward members of different groups, how we understand our own identities, and the role that pop culture plays in both. I had many "fish out of water" moments but made great friends at Stanford and graduated with my PhD in 2011 under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt, a recipient of the 2014 MacArthur "Genius" Award. I consider myself a life-long learner and feel privileged to to pass on some of what I've learned to students in my courses. In my spare time I like to watch science fiction shows on Netflix, cheer on the UCLA football team, and dance Zumba at the nearest dance studio.
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Dr. Marshall (Dr. M)
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My Teaching Philosophy
Learning changes you fundamentally. You are a different person once you have learned something new. But learning is not a passive process - you must actively engage with the materials in order to learn as much as possible. I consider myself a coach - it is my job to push you further than you thought you could go. I have three methods to do this: 1) giving you materials that force you to pay attention in order to understand, 2) asking tough questions that allow you to extend your ideas further, and 3) creating fun activities and lectures in which you play an active role. My courses are meant to challenge you, and in return you will learn a great deal, fundamentally changing how you see the world around you.
My Research
My research focuses on the ways that the TV and movies we watch, music we listen to, and news we read affects our perceptions of groups we do and don't belong to. Yes, this means I watch TV as part of my job! For more information visit my lab website.
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Courses Taught:
-General Psychology
-Intro to Statistics -Educational Psychology -Social Psychology -Psychology of Inequality -Advanced Methods -Pop Culture (Sociology) |
Professional organizations
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AWARDS & Honors
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