Maithreyi Gopalan engages in interdisciplinary, policy-relevant, social science research exploring the causes and consequences of racial and socioeconomic disparities in broadly defined student outcomes using experimental and quasi-experimental research methods. She has applied psychological insights to analyze social and educational policy issues affecting child and adolescent development.
Dr. Gopalan collaborates with PRC Director Stephanie Lanza and Ashley-Linden Carmichael, associate professor of health and human development, to extend her research on college students’ sense of belonging. In a recent study, they found that students’ sense of belonging prior to the pandemic was protective against depression and anxiety amidst the COVID pandemic.
In a new line of research, Dr. Gopalan is exploring the impact of child and adolescent health on subsequent human development. Specifically, she is examining the impact of health policies on children’s development and the short- and long-term consequences of adverse adolescent mental health on subsequent educational attainment and life course trajectories.
I have a line of research in which I design and implement preventive interventions to improve students' sense of belonging and promote strong learning mindsets.
- Maithreyi Gopalan