Cari Gillen-O’Neel

Cari Gillen-O’Neel’s research focuses on social identities—identities derived from our membership in groups, including demographic groups (e.g., race/ethnicity) and institutional groups (e.g., school). These identities can provide us with community and pride, but at the same time, we may face stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination as a result of how our groups are seen by others in society. Broadly, Cari examines:

• How and when children start to form and understand their social identities.
• How and when the situations we encounter because of our social identities impact us.
• How people with marginalized identities maintain resilience

Given her experience as a public school teacher and as a first-generation college student, her work often takes place in academic settings (e.g., examining how facing negative stereotypes puts students at risk for academic struggles, and how maintaining strong ethnic and school identities might help students be resilient despite academic challenges). Currently, Cari is focusing on racial-ethnic socialization received by White children.

Personal Website

https://www.carigillenoneel.com/

Education

BA: Scripps College
MA: University of California, Los Angeles
PhD: University of California, Los Angeles

Selected Publications

*indicates current or former Macalester student

Gillen-O’Neel, C., Huynh, V.W., Hazelbaker, T., & Harrison, A. (2021). From kindness and diversity to justice and action: White parents’ ethnic-racial socialization goals. Journal of Family Issues. 10.1177/0192513X21996392

Gillen-O’Neel, C., *Roebuck, E.C., & Ostrove, J.M. (2021). Class and the classroom: The role of individual- and school-level socioeconomic factors in predicting college students’ academic behaviors. Emerging Adulthood. 10.1177/2167696818815359

Gillen-O’Neel, C. (2019). Sense of belonging and student engagement: A daily study of first- and continuing-generation college students. Research in Higher Education. 10.1007/s11162-019-09570-y

Gillen-O’Neel, C., Mistry, R. S., Brown, C. S., Rodriguez, V. C., White, E. S., & Chow, K. A. (2015). Not excluded from analyses: Racial meanings and identification among multiracial early adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research. 10.1177/0743558414560626

Gillen-O’Neel, C. & Fuligni, A. J. (2013). A longitudinal study of school belonging and academic motivation across high school. Child Development. 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01862.x

Gillen-O’Neel, C., Huynh, V. W., & Fuligni, A. J. (2013). To study or to sleep? The academic costs of extra studying at the expense of sleep. Child Development. 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01834.x