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I am an assistant professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. I earned a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Psychology and Sociology, an MA from New York University (NYU) in Human Development and Social Intervention, and a PhD from Stanford University in Developmental and Psychological Sciences. My doctoral program advisor was Dr. Teresa LaFromboise.

​My research interests include exploring sociocultural factors (e.g., sense of belonging) that impact the academic performance and psychological development of historically marginalized students. I am also interested in informing and developing culturally-sustaining interventions for historically marginalized college students, specifically those who are first-generation/low-income (FLI).

My dissertation explored the association between sense of belonging and academic performance among FLI college students.

You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram : @nrgracia

Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Email: nrgracia@illinois.edu
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Selected Press
Blogpost: Utilizing our Strengths to Foster Social Belonging amid Social Isolation
Podcast episode 41: ​Conceptualizing ‘Sense of Belonging’ Among Students From Historically Minoritized Racial Groups Within Higher Education