Juan Estrada

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services: Psychology

Juan is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical/Counseling Psychology program. His passions surround teaching undergraduate psychology courses and conducting clinical work. He is particularly interested in serving students and clients with marginalized identities. This interest is reflected in his research, which focuses on investigating protective properties of ethnic identity in promoting wellness in Latinx youth, as well as culturally adapting treatment for Latinx populations.

Juan has taught five courses at USU, including Psychology of Gender, Behavioral Assessment and Intervention, andIntroduction to Psychology. He conceptualizes courses as forms of intervention and focuses his work on improving academic success, student sense of efficacy, motivation to pursue graduate education, and general wellness. He attributes his pursuit of a doctoral education to his early experiences serving as a teaching fellow for Teach for America for 2 years and in elementary education in Thailand. It was in these experiences that he learned the unique power of reaching individuals in the classroom to promote positive change. Juan hopes to pursue a career that includes teaching students and serving community members from diverse backgrounds. In his free time, Juan enjoys connecting with friends and family, playing the ukulele, meditating and volunteering at the Humane Society.