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College of Education and P-16 Integration Division of Academic Affairs

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Research Spotlight: Dr. Javier Cavazos - Related Links

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Research Spotlight: Dr. Javier Cavazos

Q & A with Dr. Javier Cavazos Vela, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs of the College of Education and P-16 Integration


What are your research interests and research achievements?

My research examines factors or practices that influence Latina/o students’ mental health, career development, and academic achievement. I focus on positive psychology, humanistic counseling, and creative journal arts in the understanding of Latina/o students. My work adds a new dimension to the literature by using a strength-based model to understand factors that influence Latina/o students. In addition, I am interested in teaching and learning. As the former director of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at UTRGV, I became interested in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) and began to explore factors that influence students’ learning. To date, I have published over 70 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as one textbook on teaching and learning through the American Counseling Association. I enjoy collaborating with colleagues and students on scholarship that advances understanding and practices for Latina/o students as well as research on the scholarship of teaching and learning.

How does your work align with UTRGV’s and CEP’s strategic plans?

One of the main goals of UTRGV and CEP is student success. Most of my research has focused on how positive psychology factors influence Latinx college students’ success, mental health, and career development. Also, one effective way to increase student success is through effective teaching practices. Part of my research also has focused on improving our teaching practices to influence student learning.

What are your current projects?

I am currently working on several research projects and grants. I am collaborating with Drs. Clarissa Salinas and Ming-Tsan Lu on a project that explores graduate students’ perceptions of online teaching and learning. Because COVID-19 forced classes to move online, discovering students’ perspectives about their online learning experiences is important for continuous improvement. I also am collaborating with colleagues on a quantitative study that explores how positive psychology factors influence college students’ well-being. In this study, we will use structural equation modeling to examine moderating and mediating relationships among factors that might influence well-being. In addition to writing peer-reviewed journal articles, I also am active in grant projects. I am the project evaluator on a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board grant that provides parent-directed treatment to parents with children who have autism. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Hsuying Ward and Co-Principal Investigators are Drs. Emily Curiel and Noe Ramos. I also am evaluator and co-project evaluator on Harlingen CISD and Texas Southmost College’s 21st Century ACE grants.

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