Groups: Current Honor's, MA, and PHD Students
Marita Coker is a first-year Master’s student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program. She is passionate about exploring the dynamic intersections of peer social networks, acculturation, multicultural adolescents, ethnic and racial identity, and psychopathology. Her research journey is guided by a deep curiosity about how these factors influence one another and shape the lives of individuals, particularly in the context of diverse and multicultural settings. Marita completed her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science and Social Inquiry with a Minor in Africana Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in May 2022. During last year as an undergraduate student, she focused on conducting research studies centered around 21st-century African Ontology to examine social, cultural, political, and economic aspects of contexts where youth develop. In the next few years, she hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology, building off the foundations of developmental and socio-cultural theories research to help improve and support the mental health and social relationships of multicultural individuals.