[RAICES] Please participate in a study about Latino college students

[Heidie Vazquez Garcia]

Dear student,

My name is Heidie Vázquez-García, and I’m a professor in the psychology 
and education department at Mt. Holyoke College. If you do not identify 
as Latino(a) or do not have a parent who is Latino(a), please disregard 
this message.  However, if you do identify as Latino(a) or have a parent 
who is Latino(a) please read on.

I’m writing to you today to ask for your help with a study that I’m 
conducting with the help of my research team on Latino(a) college 
students’ experiences and identity development.  As a Latina 
psychologist focusing on development and adjustment among Latinos, my 
goal is to learn about the types of experiences young Latinos have that 
help to shape how they think about themselves and how they feel about 
who they are.

As you know, Latinos are becoming the largest minority group in the U.S. 
yet very little is known about how young Latino(a) adults develop.  We 
are interested in examining the identity development of Latinos and the 
types of experiences and relationships with others that help to shape 
their identity. Finally, we want to examine how young Latinos are 
adjusting socially and emotionally to college.  By participating in this 
study, you will be helping to close the information gap on Latinos and 
furthering our understanding of how young Latino adults develop.

I am very excited about this study and hope that you are too!  Your 
participation in the study consists of completing a questionnaire which 
should take about 1 hour.  If you are not a Mt. Holyoke student, you do 
not need to come to Mt. Holyoke College to complete the questionnaire. 
We will do our best to come to you.  Because we realize that your time 
is valuable, all participants in the study will be entered into a raffle 
where 8 students will win $25 cash prizes.  Mt. Holyoke students will 
have the option to receive one psychology research credit for 
participation.  I hope this will provide additional incentive to 
participate.  Your participation in this study is completely voluntary 
and confidential.

If you are interested in participating, please reply to this email.   If 
you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email 
(hvazquez at mtholyoke.edu) or phone (413-538-2086).

Thanks for your time!  Muchas Gracias!



Heidie A. Vázquez-García, Ph.D.
Psychology and Education Dept.
Mt. Holyoke College