Title: The Distinct Benefits of Connecting Through Shared and Divergent Experiences for Marginalized Students
By Mesmin Destin, Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Social Policy, and IPR Fellow
Abstract: Social connections have a variety of positive effects across the lifespan. For college students, opportunities to build connections with peers can be a key contributor to academic success and well-being. Recent studies have investigated the types of connections that might benefit students most, especially for those from lower-income families or who are the first in their family to attend college. Through research partnerships with existing programs, a combination of qualitative, quantitative, quasi-experimental, and experimental studies seek to understand how students may benefit from opportunities to build connections with peers who come from similar socioeconomic circumstances. To complement this evidence, more controlled experiments show different effects of connecting with peers from higher (compared to lower) socioeconomic status backgrounds.
This event is part of the Fay Lomax Cook Spring 2026 Colloquium Series, where our researchers from around the University share their latest policy-relevant research.
Please note all colloquia this quarter will be held in-person only.
Madeleine Bagnall
(847) 491-3395
Email