Dr. Desiree Vega
Associate Professor, Disability and Psychoeducational Studies
School Psychology Program Faculty Chair, Ph.D. Director, and Director of Clinical Training
“Believe in yourself and all that you can accomplish.”
“My passion is fueled by the people who have mentored and supported me throughout my life.”
What drives the work that you do, including your scholarship, as well as any other work you'd like to highlight?
I am a first-generation college graduate who grew up in a low-income household. My father was born and raised in Puerto Rico; my mother’s family is from Puerto Rico and Curaçao. My identities have influenced my desire to contribute knowledge and support to my communities while learning from them. My scholarship addresses equity issues related to students’ intersectional identities, including race, ethnicity, and language. I seek to integrate best practices for school psychologists and educators to utilize a culturally responsive lens to address students’ educational needs.
What fuels your passion?
My passion is fueled by the people who have mentored and supported me throughout my life. Many people have invested in my learning and development, so it is important for me to give back. My graduate students motivate me to continue this work and be a role model and mentor to them throughout their studies. I see their passion for supporting their diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic communities, which is an important reminder of why this work is necessary. Growing up, I would have never imagined I would be where I am now. I will never forget the significance of having a Black woman advisor in graduate school and having all faculty of color on my dissertation committee. It inspired me by seeing myself represented and fuels me to inspire others from similar backgrounds.
What advice would you give your younger self? Or, if you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
The advice I would give my younger self is to believe in yourself and all that you can accomplish.
“It is important for me to give back.”
Take a look at her Featured Article, which explores how the lack of diversity among school psychologists and in the profession’s training standards presents challenges in their efforts to be effectively prepared to adequately support emergent bilingual students: