Jessica Montoro

Jessica Montoro, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at Loyola Marymount University. She earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan. Her research centers on two areas: a) how cultural stressors and assets shape the well-being and academic adjustment of Latine adolescents and college students, and b) how identities related to ethnicity, race, and social class intersect to influence educational outcomes.

Dr. Montoro uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate how family, cultural, and coping resources can buffer against stressors across home, school, and community contexts, supporting student persistence and well-being. Her work adopts a strengths-based perspective that highlights the identities Latine students draw on to succeed and persist in higher education. She has also taught and mentored students across a range of institutional settings, including research universities, comprehensive universities, and community colleges. Dr. Montoro is committed to fostering inclusive and equitable educational environments that recognize and build on students’ identities to support their success and well-being.