Research Spotlight: Dr. Veronica Castro
Q & A with Dr. Veronica Castro, Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling
What are your research interests and research achievements?
Dr. Castro’s research experience and interests encompass resiliency, emotional intelligence, school counselor and counselor education, and counseling youth who identify as gay, lesbian, and/or bisexual (GLB). Her research achievements include completing two major research projects—The Efficacy of an Emotional Intelligence Based Program: Resilient Behaviors of Seventh and Eighth Grade Students and Do APA or CACREP Accreditations Make a Difference? A Look at GLB Competency Among Faculty and Graduate Students; as well as several published articles relating to these research topics.
How does your work align with UTRGV’s and CEP’s strategic plans?
One of UTRGV’s core priorities is to develop research that not only impacts the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) but goes beyond the RGV. Research that addresses GLB competency (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) in future school counselors and mental health professionals in accredited programs is not only important for the RGV but for mental health graduate programs across the nation. One of the goals of the College of Education P-16 Integration is to “attract and retain multiculturally responsive scholars, learning leaders, and education professionals . . . [by] providing professional development on topics related to linguistically and culturally diverse populations” (p.7). This particular line of research is the only one of its kind in the College of Education and P-16 Integration.
What are your current projects?
Current research projects include looking at cognitive versus affective attitudes toward GLB clients among counseling graduate students and whether that could impact their services to individuals who identify as GLB.