Michael Medina

Dr. Michael A. Medina is an assistant professor of applied human development in BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. As a Latino first-generation college graduate, he is deeply interested in the systems and contexts that support student success. His research examines the benefits of ethnic-racial identity development and diversity across social contexts. More broadly, his work concerns what young people believe about their ethnic-racial heritage, what interpersonal and societal factors shape these beliefs, and what challenges youth may face in navigating a racialized society and educational system. He teaches courses emphasizing positive youth development, anti-racist practices, and positive psychology. Dr. Medina is a recipient of National Science Foundation and Ford Foundation Fellowships, and his work has been distributed in national media outlets such as Huffington Post and Psychology Today, peer-reviewed journals such as Child Development and Journal of Youth and Adolescence, and at numerous national and international conferences.