Kiara Padilla

Kiara Padilla is pursuing a Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and will engage with the Race, Indigeneity, Gender, and Sexuality (RIGS) Initiative on campus. While studying at the University of Minnesota, Kiara will be guided by her first-year advisor, Bianet Castellanos and will continue to explore her research interests. Her research stems from examining the intersection of race, incarceration, migrant experiences, and mental health. More specifically, she will study how Latinx migrant “lifers” with mental health issues re-integrate into Mexican society at the U.S./Mexico border after being incarcerated and lacking mental health resources. Kiara is a recent graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology and Chicana/o Studies.