Cristina Wilson, PhD
Henry M. and Judith M. Zachs Chair in Social Work, Professor, Director of the Ph.D. Program
Cristina Wilson, Ph.D., (publishes as Mogro-Wilson) is a Professor and a faculty member in the Puerto Rican and Latin@ Studies Project.
Cristina is a recognized Latina scholar and expert in health disparities and cultural humility working with Latino families. Her research has made substantial contributions to improving the lives of Latino families by identifying modifiable factors associated with parenting and how culture influences parenting in Latino families. Cristina has added to the knowledge on what makes individuals and family units more effective at prevention of substance use, and what protects individuals and families that are at-risk or have high intensity needs. Cristina’s work informs culturally responsive practice and education regarding under-studied ethnic and racial minority populations. Her most recent work focuses on engaging Latino fathers in understanding how fatherhood is important, particularly during times of great stress and uncertainty. Cristina is interested in generating models for family-focused sustainable interventions for Latino families that include the needs of fathers. As a social worker, she is committed to focusing on individuals’ strengths, and empowering at-risk groups. Her work focuses on understanding the factors that promote resilience. She has centered her focus on strengthening Latino families, and in creating environments where children and youth can thrive.
In 2022, Cristina was named Editor-in-Chief of Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, a core journal in social work research for over 100 years. Launched in 1920, the journal built a knowledge base for the first systematized approaches to the practice of social work and has been stewarded over the years by the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. Families in Society is published in partnership with SAGE Publishing.
Cristina teaches masters level courses in research methods and program evaluation and teaches in the doctoral program (Research Methods, Survey Methods, Multivariate Statistics I and II and Mixed Methods).
She is Co-PI on four federally funded five-year grants totaling over $20 million from the U.S. Department of Education (OSEP) and the Heath Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to train students at the MSW and Ph.D. levels to focus on children with disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable and diverse populations. Each year the grants fund tuition and stipends for approximately six MSW and Ph.D. students who are trained to become professionals working to help serve the most vulnerable infants and young children in our state grounded in culturally responsive practice. Most recently she received an Equity Center grant that will focus on institutes of higher education that are training professionals who work with young children in special education to receive equitable services through policies focused on recruitment, retention, and training of diverse professionals and faculty.
Research Interests
Latino families and parenting in at risk environments
Substance use for Latino youth and adults
Intervention and prevention programs for substance use
Teen pregnancy prevention
Fathers in the Latino community
Family mechanisms and factors that play a role in at risk behaviors
Children, youth, and adults with disabilities
Curriculum Vitae
Connect with Cristina Wilson
| cristina.wilson@uconn.edu | |
| Phone | (959) 200-3674 |
| Office Location | Room 310 HSSW |