Meet
Dr. Ana G Vielma
Ana recently graduated with her PhD in the Human Development, Culture, and Learning Sciences (HDCLS) program at The University of Texas at Austin under the supervision of Dr. Stephanie Cawthon.
She is also an alumna of St. Edward’s University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2019.
Ana is a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar and McNair Scholar interested in serving the first-gen community.
Ana’s research primarily focuses on a series of psychological assessments and interventions that explore and inform best practices to aid the mental health of underrepresented students in higher education.
Some of her previous research has investigated procrastination styles, aspects of culture and online social networking sites, the social class achievement gap, and salivary hormone samples to examine the effects of stress. Currently, her research investigates evidence-based practices that will reduce the adverse psychological effects of first-generation students' financial stress.
During her time at UT Austin she also served as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Assessment for the Undergraduate College. She has researched the first-year student experience, faculty and student perceptions of teamwork and collaboration, and the relationship between campus services and overall transition through her position. In addition, she has also led multiple workshops, presentations, and focus groups related to assessment methodology and approaches to university faculty and staff members.
