EMPOWER Lab

Monica E. Romero, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Romero is an Assistant Professor in the combined School/Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Texas at Austin. She/Ella graduated from the University of Missouri School Psychology program. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Santa Barbara Psychological Internship Consortium (SBPIC) in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Dr. Romero’s research focuses on four lines of inquiry: (1) developing and evaluating culturally and linguistically responsive interventions with a focus on academic, social-emotional learning, and mental health for emergent bilingual/multilingual learners and Latiné/x students; (2) investigating multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and data-based decision making (DBDM) in schools; (3) family-school-community collaboration practices for newcomer students and families; and (4) training of bilingual school psychologists.

Dr. Romero is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and is passionate about working with school and communities to support the Latine/x and multilingual community.

Mariana Davila

Graduate Student

Mariana Davila is pursuing her Doctoral degree in the School/Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Texas at Austin. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Specialization degree in School Psychology from Texas State University.

Before embarking on her doctoral journey, Mariana served as a bilingual School Psychologist, where her experiences ignited a passion for promoting equity within special education for the culturally diverse community. Her research interests now center around enhancing the cultural competence of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) processes, interventions, and services. Outside of her academic pursuits, Mariana finds joy in spending quality time with her family and taking leisurely walks with her dog.

Elizabeth Camarena

Project Coordinator

Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and holds three Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Development, Sociology, and Youth and Community Studies. She serves as the Central Texas Program Coordinator for a local non-profit organization, Girlstart, which oversees partnerships with AISD and HCISD schools. Elizabeth has been in the educational and child advocacy space for many years and is applying to Education PhD programs for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Callie Strickland

Graduate Student

Callie Strickland is an accomplished educator with a Bachelor of Science degree in Bilingual Education from Texas A&M University (2015). Her passion for teaching has taken her on a journey spanning diverse classrooms, from teaching Pre-K through 6th grade in Madrid, Spain, to her recent role as a 2nd-grade Dual Language teacher in Austin ISD.

Callie has demonstrated strong leadership skills throughout her career, serving as a team lead from 2020 to 2023. Her dedication and excellence in the classroom were recognized when she was honored as Teacher of the Year at McBee Elementary School in 2022. Beyond the classroom, Callie has also positively impacted her community by serving as a local Girl Scout troop leader and providing valuable Spanish tutoring to middle school and high school students.

Callie is thrilled to be a part of the TRACCS program as she embarks on the Master’s program to become a School Psychologist. In Fall 2024, Callie will begin her practicum in Del Valle Independent School District in Austin, Texas. 

Luisa Acevedo

Graduate Student

Luisa Acevedo holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Texas Tech University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She has experience as both an Early Childhood and Special Education Teacher in Austin, earning Teacher of the Year in 2021 and Teacher of Promise in 2023. Her expertise includes Applied Behavior Analysis, developing Individualized Education Programs, and creating personalized reinforcement strategies to support student success.

Luisa is currently pursuing her Master’s in School Psychology at UT Austin as a Trainee in the Training in Comprehensive Services in School Psychology (TRACSS) Program and serves as the Secretary for the Student Affiliates in School Psychology (SASP). She is also excited to be part of the Empower Lab, where she collaborates on research supporting historically underserved communities, including students with disabilities and bilingual learners. Committed to promoting equity in schools, she looks forward to using her skills to bridge educational gaps. Luisa is eager to continue making a meaningful impact as she prepares to become a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology.

Valerie Rodriguez

Undergraduate Student

My name is Valerie. I’m an undergrad at UT Austin, majoring in Kinesiology Exercise Science and minoring in Healthcare Reform and Innovation. I am pursuing a career in occupational therapy, focusing on the Latine/x community to raise awareness about the profession and aid in destigmatizing disabilities. 

Isabela Robledo

Undergraduate Student

Isabela is a junior psychology major starting a poetry certificate. She intends to be a therapist and is very excited to learn more about child development through her involvement in this lab.

Ximena Castro

Undergraduate Student

My name is Ximena, and I am a senior at UT Austin. I am majoring in psychology with a minor in business and public policy. I plan to pursue a career in industrial psychology, and I am interested in researching the use of predictive analytics in workforce planning and management.

Sirie Yamani

Undergraduate Student

Sirie Yamani is a senior pursuing a B.S.A in Biology with a Business Administration minor. She hopes to eventually go to medical school and work in the healthcare field. Sirie is excited to learn more about social emotional development of bilingual children and to gain a better understanding of her community. 

Brianna Camacho

Undergraduate Student

Brianna is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin studying Human Ecology. She has experience working with young students in elementary school settings, where she developed a strong interest in supporting both educational and social development. In addition, she teaches practical life skills to children in a classroom setting, fostering essential social-emotional growth in young learners. Brianna is passionate about researching ways to improve mental health outcomes for students and communities, with a focus on psychiatric epidemiology. She hopes to contribute to research that identifies risk factors and protective supports for mental health, helping to shape educational environments that promote resilience and well-being. Brianna is excited to continue building her skills and knowledge to create positive change in education and mental health.

Angie Cotton

Undergraduate Student

Angie is an undergraduate student at UT Austin, majoring in Kinesiology and intending to pursue medicine. She enjoys working with children and is excited to help them develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

Lucas Oliveira

Undergraduate Student

Lucas Oliveira is a junior psychology major at the University of Texas at Austin. Passionate about education and community engagement, Lucas is dedicated to working with students and families to create positive learning experiences. With a focus on understanding individual needs and fostering growth, he is excited to contribute to initiatives that empower others and make a meaningful impact in the field of education.

Crystal Fu

Undergraduate Student

Crystal Fu is an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Psychology and a minor in Statistics and Data Science. She is passionate about improving the lives of children, especially those of a bilingual background, and is pursuing a career in clinical psychology that is geared toward meeting the social and emotional needs of her community.

Sophie Mejia

Undergraduate Student

Sophie is a freshman majoring in Economics and Plan II Honors at UT Austin. She is passionate about education equality and is looking forward to further developing her research skills in the lab. She hopes to eventually go to graduate school and conduct policy analysis at a think tank. 

Braylon Hill

Undergraduate Student

Braylon is a sophomore majoring in Plan II and Biology. He has plans to pursue medicine and eventually become a doctor. Braylon has a passion for helping others and looks forward to learning more about research and child development.

Noelle Winter

Undergraduate Student

Noelle is a senior undergraduate student pursuing a major in Kinesiology with a double minor in Communications and Educational Psychology. Noelle has an extensive background as a counselor, tennis coach and babysitter, and is passionate about working with adolescents in the future. She plans to attend graduate school to gain a Masters degree and eventually pursue a career as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant working with student athletes.