Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services
Department of Child And Family Studies
Office
ETA505
Phone
(323) 343-4597
Email
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Ph.D. Education 2016
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
M.A. Education 2012
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
B.A. Psychology 2009
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
TEACHING INTERESTS
I teach and develop courses in child and family studies. Some of the courses I teach are as follows: CHDV 5060: Social Development and Resiliency, CHDV 3210: Urban Families and Resilience, CHDV 5080: Research Methods, CHDV 2250: Ethnic Identity, and Cultural Awareness in Children and Families, CHDV 3780: Graduate School and Professional Development, etc.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research employs a developmental lens to investigate the impact of school context and equity on motivation and school adjustment, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.
PUBLICATIONS
| RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS |
|---|
| Saafir, A., Morales-Chicas, J., Kogachi, K., & Graham, S. (2025). Context matters: How relative representation shapes Black and Latiné adolescents' perceptions of school ethnic climate and discrimination. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1621793. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1621793 |
| Morales-Chicas, J., Remigio, M., Ahmadyveasi, D., Guzman, B., Castillo, M. (2025). Empowering Latine Middle School Voices through a Culturally Responsive Coding Curriculum. Computer Science Education, 1-29. |
| Dhillon Brar, M. Morales-Chicas, J., Morris, S., Rivera, I., Cannara, R. (2025). Intergroup dialogue empowering action for transforming equity in higher education. Education Sciences, 15(1), 1-38. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15010038 |
| Morales-Chicas, J., Ortiz, J., Tanimura, D. M., & Kouyoumdjian, C. (2023). Understanding Latino boys’ motivation to pursue STEM while navigating school inequalities. Journal of Latinos and Education, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2021.1944864 |
| Graham, S., Kogachi, K., & Morales-Chicas, J. (2022). Do I fit in: Race/ethnicity and feelings of belonging in school. Educational Psychology Review, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-022-09709-x |
| Morales-Chicas, J., Gomez, M., Gussman, M., & Kouyoumdjian, C. (2022). A cultural wealth approach to understanding Latin@ s’ STEM mentee and mentor experiences. Equity & Excellence in Education, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10665684.2022.204741 |
| Morales-Chicas, J., & Graham, S. (2021). Do I belong in my math class? The importance of perceived racial/ethnic context and math course sequence. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 67, 102012. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12292 |
| Morales-Chicas, J., Castillo, M., Bernal, I., Ramos, P, Guzman, B. (2019). Computing with relevance and purpose: A review of culturally relevant education in computing. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 21(1), 125-154. (EJ1208280). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1208280.pdf |
| Morales-Chicas, J., & Agger, C. (2017). The effects of teacher collective responsibility on the mathematics achievement of students who repeat algebra. Journal of Urban Mathematics Education, 10(1), 52–73. https://doi.org/10.21423/jume-v10i1a287 |
| Morales‐Chicas, J., & Graham, S. (2017). Latinos’ changing ethnic group representation from elementary to middle school: perceived belonging and academic achievement. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 27(3), 537–549. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12292 |
| Graham, S. & Morales-Chicas, J. (2015). The ethnic context and attitudes toward 9th grade math. International Journal of Educational Psychology, 4(1), 1-32. (EJ1111710) ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1111710.pdf |
| Morales-Chicas, J. & Graham, S. (2015). Pubertal timing of Latinas and school connectedness during the transition to middle school. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(6), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0192-x |
CURRENT GRANTS
| GRANT LEADERSHIP |
|---|
| Co-PI & Project Director | Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program |
| Co-PI | DOE, Developing Hispanic Serving-Institutions (DHSI) Grant, Reclaiming Pedagogy, Community and Student Success |
| PI | NSF IUSE, Improving Attributions in Undergraduate Pre-Calculus for STEM Success |
| Co-PI | NSF IGE, The California State University Well-being Alliance for Research Masters (CSU WARM) |