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Vera Lopez

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SST Justice and Social Inquiry
Associate Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6403
School of Social Transformation
Assoc Prof, Justice & Soc. Inq.
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6403
SST All Faculty
Associate Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6403
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Assoc Prof, Justice & Soc. Inq.
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6403
Biography

Associate Professor, Justice and Social Inquiry, School of Social Transformation, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

 

Vera Lopez is an Associate Professor in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry. She received an MA in Program Evaluation and a PhD in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She also completed a one-year child clinical research internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a two-year NIMH funded research post-doc at Arizona State University’s Prevention Research Center, and a clinical internship at the Arizona Department of Juvenile Correction's Black Canyon Correctional School for girls. In 2009, Lopez was selected from a national competition to be a Visiting Scholar at the Univeristy of Houston's Center for Mexican American Studies where she spent the 2009-2010 academic year conducting research on Mexican American girls' relationship power, trust, and infidelity. 

Lopez maintains several research affiliations at ASU and other universities. She is currently a Research Associate with the Center for Drug and Social Policy Research at the University of Houston, a Visiting Associate Research Scientist at the Columbia University School of Social Work, a Faculty Research Affiliate at ASU's Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, and a Research Affiliate at ASU's Center for Population Dynamics. 

Lopez has extensive research and clinical experience working in juvenile justice and residential treatment settings. Her research areas include adolescent delinquency, sexual risk taking, substance use, and prevention research with a major focus on girls. She was a PI on a subcontract for a project examining girls’ sexual risk taking as it relates to attachment, gender, relationship power, and drug use. In addition, Lopez was a co-investigator on two other pilot projects focused on adolescent girls’ sexual risk taking and sexualities. Her current project, "Family and Relationship Dynamics Among Drug-Involved Girls," is funded by an ASU Center for Population Seed Grant.

Lopez's work has been featured in a number of journals including the Journal of Family Issues, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Feminist Criminology, Family Relations, and Criminal Justice & Behavior. She and her colleagues from the School of Social Transformation also have a forthcoming edited volume, "Adolescent Girls' Sexualities and the Media," that is slated to appear in 2013.

As a youth advocate, Lopez has taught a number of courses related to adolescent issues including Juvenile Delinquency, Latina Girls: Risk and Resiliency, Adolescent Girls: Risk and Resiliency, and Youth and Justice. She is slated to also begin teaching a new course called "Youth, Justice, and Education." In addition to these youth-focused courses, Lopez has taught research methods and statistics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Finally, Lopez is actively involved in the community. For the past four years, she has served on the Arizona Girls’ Roundtable Steering Committee and has written in the popular press about girls’ issues. She was also recently selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Maricopa and Pinal county chapter of Girls on the Run.

 

CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Research Interests

Female Adolescent Delinquency, Sexual Risk Taking, Substance Use, and Violence

Publications
  • Vera Lopez. Understanding Adolescent Property Crime Using a Delinquent Events Perspective. Deviant Behavior (2008).
  • Vera Lopez, Margaret Russell. Examining the Predictors of Juvenile Probation Officers' Rehabilitation Orientation. Journal of Criminal Justice (2008).
  • Felipe Castro, M Barrera, H Pantin, C Martinez, M Felix-Ortiz, R Rios, Vera Lopez, C Lopez. Substance abuse prevention intervention research with Hispanic populations. Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2006).
  • S Deng, Vera Lopez, M Roosa, E Ryu, G Burrell, J Tein, S Crowder. Family Processes Mediating the Relationship of Neighborhood Disadvantage to Child Internalizing Problems. Journal of Early Adolescence (2006).
  • Vera Lopez, F Castro. Participation and Program Outcomes in a Church-based Cancer Prevention Program for Hispanic Women. Journal of Community Health (2006).
  • Mark Roosa, Shiying Deng, E Ryu, Ginger Burrell, Jen Tein, Vera Lopez, Sakrina Crowder. Family and Child Characteristics as Mediators and Moderators of Neighborhood Influences on Child Externalizing Behavior. Journal of Marriage and the Family (2005).
  • Lopez, C (Author) ,Lopez, Vera A (Author) ,Suarez, L (Author) ,Castro, F (Author) . Cultural variation within Hispanic American families. Comprehensive Handbook of Multicultural School Psychology (2005).
  • Vera Lopez, Mark Roosa, Jen Tein, Khanh Dinh. Aggression, Gang Membership, Social Acceptance, and Ethnicity as Predictors of School Misbehavior. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice (2004).
  • . . Handbook of Chicana and Chicano Psychology (2004).
  • Vera Lopez. Substance Abuse Treatment and Juvenile Arrestees: A Cross-Ethnic Comparison. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse (2003).
  • Vera Lopez, E Emmer. Influences of beliefs and values on male adolescents' decision to commit violent offenses. Psychology of Men and Masculinity (2002).
  • Vera Lopez, Mark Roosa, Jen Tein, Khanh Dinh. The relationship between acculturation and problem behavior syndrome in a Hispanic youth sample: A mediational modelMisbehavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology (2002).
  • Dumka, L (Author) ,Jacobs-Carter, S (Author) ,Lopez, Vera A (Author) . Parenting interventions adapted for Latino families: Progress and prospects. Latino Children and Families in the United States (2002).
  • Vera Lopez, E Emmer. Adolescent male offenders: A grounded theory study of cognition, emotions, and delinquent crime contexts. Criminal Justice and Behavior (2000).
Research Activity
  • Lopez,Vera A*. Gender, Relationship Power, and Attachment Among Drug-Involved Mexican American Adolescent Girls. COLUMBIA UNIV(4/1/2008 - 3/31/2011).
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 302Statistical AnalysisJusStd
JUS 477Youth and Justice
JUS 492Honors Directed Study
JUS 493Honors Thesis
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
JUS 499Individualized Instruction
JUS 590Reading and Conference
JUS 592Research
JUS 593Applied Project
JUS 599Thesis
JUS 790Reading and Conference
JUS 792Research
JUS 799Dissertation
Summer 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 492Honors Directed Study
JUS 493Honors Thesis
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
JUS 499Individualized Instruction
JUS 592Research
JUS 593Applied Project
JUS 599Thesis
JUS 790Reading and Conference
JUS 792Research
JUS 799Dissertation
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 302Statistical AnalysisJusStd
JUS 477Youth and Justice
JUS 492Honors Directed Study
JUS 493Honors Thesis
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
JUS 499Individualized Instruction
JUS 590Reading and Conference
JUS 592Research
JUS 599Thesis
JUS 790Reading and Conference
JUS 792Research
JUS 799Dissertation
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 492Honors Directed Study
JUS 493Honors Thesis
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
JUS 499Individualized Instruction
JUS 590Reading and Conference
JUS 592Research
JUS 593Applied Project
JUS 599Thesis
JUS 790Reading and Conference
JUS 792Research
JUS 799Dissertation
Summer 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 492Honors Directed Study
JUS 493Honors Thesis
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
JUS 499Individualized Instruction
JUS 592Research
JUS 599Thesis
JUS 790Reading and Conference
JUS 792Research
JUS 799Dissertation
Spring 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 302Statistical AnalysisJusStd
JUS 477Youth and Justice
JUS 492Honors Directed Study
JUS 493Honors Thesis
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
JUS 499Individualized Instruction
Fall 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 302Statistical AnalysisJusStd
JUS 477Youth and Justice
Summer 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 790Reading and Conference
Fall 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 477Youth and Justice
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
Summer 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 790Reading and Conference
Spring 2014
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 477Youth and Justice
JUS 591Seminar
JUS 691Seminar
Fall 2013
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 477Youth and Justice
WST 498Pro-Seminar
JUS 498Pro-Seminar
Spring 2013
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 477Youth and Justice
Fall 2012
Course NumberCourse Title
JUS 477Youth and Justice
JUS 494Special Topics
Presentations
  • Pasko, L., & Lopez, V. The Latina Penalty: Juvenile Court and Correctional Attitudes Toward the Latina Juvenile Offender. American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting (Nov 2012).
  • Corona, R., Lopez, V., & Halfond, R. Traditional Gender Roles, Educational Beliefs, and Condom Attitudes in a Latino Adolescent Sample. Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health 8th Annual Women's Health Research (Apr 2012).
  • Lopez, V., & Chesney-Lind, M. Latina Girls Speak Out: Stereotypes, Gender Roles, and Relationship Dynamics. Roundtable on Latina Feminism-John Carroll University (Apr 2012).
  • Corona, R., Lopez, V., & Halfond, R. Traditional Gender Roles, Educational Beliefs, and Condom Attitudes in a Latino Adolescent Sample. Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health 8th Annual Women's Health Research (Apr 2012).
  • Lopez, V., Corona, R., & Halfond, R. What Predicts Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Latino Adolescents?. Society for Research on Adolescence (Mar 2012).
  • Lopez, V., Corona, R., & Halfond, R. What Predicts Eating Problems Among Latino Youth?. Society for Research on Adolescence (Mar 2012).
  • Corona, R., Lopez, V., & Halfond, R. Traditional Gender Roles, Educational Beliefs, and Condom Attitudes in a Latino Adolescent Sample. Society for Research on Adolescence (Mar 2012).
  • Lopez, V., & Chesney-Lind, M. Latina Girls Speak Out: Stereotypes, Gender Roles, and Relationship Dynamics. American Society of Criminology (Nov 2011).
  • Lopez, V., Kopak, A., Robillard, A., Gillmore, M., Holliday, R.C., & Braithwaite, R.L. Pathways to sexual risk taking among female adolescent detainees. American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting (Sep 2011).
  • Lopez, V., Kopak, A., Robillard, A., Gillmore, M., Holliday, R.C., & Braithwaite, R.L. Pathways to Sexual Risk Taking Among Female Adolescent Detainees. Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (Apr 2011).
  • Lopez, V. Sexual Infidelity, Trust, and Relationship Power Among Mexican American Girls in Houston. Center for Mexican American Studies, University of Houston (Brown Bag Lecture) (Mar 2011).
  • Lopez, V. Preventing HIV Among Drug-Involved Latina Adolescents. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Houston (Brown Bag Lecture) (Feb 2011).
  • Lopez, V., Katsulis, Y., & Robillard, A. Drug Use with Parents as a Relational Strategy for Incarcerated Female Adolescents. American Society of Criminology (Sep 2010).
  • Lopez, V., & Jurik, N., & Gilliard-Matthews, S. Gender, sexuality, power and drug acquisition strategies among adolescent girls who use me. Society for the Study of Social Problems (Jul 2009).
  • Lopez, V., Roosa, M., & Wu, E. Gender, Relationship Power, Drugs, and Attachment among Mexican American Adolescent Girls: A University-Community Agency Partnership. 12th Biennial Conference of the Society for Community Research and Action (Jun 2009).
  • Lopez, V. HIV and Substance Use Prevention for Mexican-origin Adolescent Girls: A Pilot Study. HIV Intervention Science Training Program at Columbia University’s School of Social Work (Jun 2009).
  • Lopez, V. Methamphetamine Use Among Arizona Adolescent Girls. J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium: Justice for Youth, New Mexico State University (Apr 2009).
  • Lopez, V., Jurik, N., & Gilliard-Matthews, S. Gender, sexuality, power and drug acquisition strategies among adolescent girls. American Society of Criminology (Nov 2008).
  • Lopez, V. & Robillard, A. Sexual risk taking among adolescents. Florence Crittenton Youth Leadership Conference (Sep 2008).
  • Lopez, V. & Gilliard-Matthews, S. Gender, sexuality, power and drug acquisition strategies among adolescent girls. School of Justice & Social Inquiry Graduate-Faculty Seminar Series (Apr 2008).
  • Lopez, Vera. Understanding the Link Between Parental Rejection, Substance Use, and Sexual Risk Taking. Arizona Girls Roundtable Steering Committee Meeting (Jan 2008).
  • Lopez, Vera. Drug Use and Risky Behaviors Among a Sample of Female Adolescents. National Hispanic Science Network Summer Research Training Institute (Jun 2007).
  • Lopez, Vera. Male adolescent offenders and their delinquent events. American Society of Criminology Annual Conference, Toronto (Nov 2005).
  • Lopez, Vera. Delinquent events and property crimes. Law and Society Annual Meeting, Las Vegas (Jun 2005).
  • Deng, S, Lopez, Vera, Roosa, M, Ryu, E, Burrell, G, Tein, J, Crowder, S. Family processes mediating the relationship of neighborhood disadvantage to child internalizing problems. National Council of Family Relations (Nov 2003).
  • Deng, S, Lopez, Vera, Roosa, M, Ryu, E, Burrell, G, Tein, J, Crowder, S. Family and child characteristics as mediators and moderators of neighborhood influences on child externalizing Behavior. National Council of Family Relations (Jun 2003).
  • Lopez, Vera. Understanding Female Adolescents’ Initial Foray into the World of Meth Using a Delinquent Events Approach. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology
  • Lopez, Vera, Broberg, Gregory. Female Adolescent Offenders' Accounts of Methamphetamines Use. Annual Meeting for the Society for the Study of Social Problems
  • Lopez, Vera, Broberg, Gregory. Portraits in Pen: Acknowledging Incarcerated Youths' Perspectives. John Jay College of Criminal Justice Interdisciplinary Conference
Service
  • Girls on the Run, Member of Board of Directors (2012 - Present)
  • Journal of Adolescent Research, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2012 - Present)
  • Journal of Family Issues, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2012 - Present)
  • Journal of Family Issues, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2012 - Present)
  • Institutional Review Board, Member (2011 - Present)
  • Graduate Committee, JSI Graduate Director (2011 - Present)
  • Florence-Crittenton, Phoenix, AZ., Presenter (2010 - Present)
  • Foothills Democrats, Scottsdale, AZ., Presenter (2010 - Present)
  • Arizona Girls Roundtable Steering Committee, Member (2008 - Present)
  • Arizona Girls Roundtable Steering Committee, Member (2008 - Present)
  • Arizona Girls Roundtable Steering Committee, Member (2008 - Present)
  • Arizona Girls Roundtable Steering Committee, Member (2008 - Present)
  • School Community Journal, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • School Community Journal, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • School Community Journal, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • School Community Journal, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • School Community Journal, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • Criminal Justice & Behavior, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • Criminal Justice & Behavior, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • Criminal Justice & Behavior, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • Criminal Justice & Behavior, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • Criminal Justice & Behavior, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2005 - Present)
  • Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2004 - Present)
  • Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Ad Hoc Reviewer (2004 - Present)
  • SST Graduate Committee, Member of Board of Directors (2012 - 2013)
  • Institutional Review Board, Member (2011 - 2013)
  • Graduate Committee, JSI Graduate Director (2011 - 2013)
  • Women and Gender Studies-Personnel Committee, Reviewed Heather Switzer's 3rd year review package. Crafted the service part of her letter. (2012 - 2012)
  • Arizona Girls Roundtable Steering Committee, Member (2008 - 2010)
  • Undergraduate Committee, Member (2009 - 2010)
  • Annual Performance Review Committee, Member (2010 - 2010)
  • Feminist Criminology, Ad-Hoc Reviewer (2008 - 2009)
  • Chicano/a Latino/a Faculty Staff Association, Faculty Representative (2009 - 2009)
  • SJSI Honors Disciplinary Advisor, Liaison Between SJSI and Honors College (2008 - 2009)
  • Undergraduate Committee, Chair (2008 - 2009)
  • Truman Scholarship Committee -Barretts Honors College, Member (2007 - 2009)
  • Chicano/a Latino/a Faculty Staff Association, Faculty Representative (2007 - 2008)
  • Deviant Behavior, Ad Hoc Reviwer (2007 - 2008)
  • School Community Journal, Editorial Review Board Member (2007 - 2008)
  • Graduate Student Committee, Member (2008)
  • Annual Review Commitee, Member (2006 - 2007)
  • Graduate Committee Member, (2006 - 2007)
  • Honors Disciplinary Advisor, Advisor (2006 - 2007)
  • Truman Scholarship Selection Review Committee, Member (2006 - 2007)
  • Personnel Committee, Member (2005 - 2006)
  • Graduate Committee, Member (2002 - 2004)
  • Annual Review Committee, Member (2004 - 2004)
  • Center for Learning and Teaching Excellence Wakonse Steering Committee, Member (2004 - 2004)
  • Faculty Ambassador Program, Member (2001 - 2002)