Desiree Vega
- Associate Professor, Disability and Psychoeducational Studies
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
Contact
- (520) 621-6689
- Education, Rm. 413
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- dvega2@arizona.edu
Biography
Dr. Vega received her B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University and both her M.A. and doctorate in School Psychology from The Ohio State University. She worked as a bilingual school psychologist with Omaha Public Schools from 2010-2013. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Arizona, she served a faculty member in the School Psychology program at Texas State University from 2013-2016. Dr. Vega’s research focuses on three primary areas: 1) The assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse students; 2) Identification of the significant factors, which contribute to the academic success of African American and Latino youth in the K-12 pipeline; and 3) Access to higher education among urban youth. Dr. Vega also focuses on the training of bilingual school psychologists and served as a co-principal investigator on the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, $1.03 million grant at Texas State University.
Degrees
- Ph.D. School Psychology
- The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
- M.A. School Psychology
- The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
- B.A. Psychology
- Binghamton University, Binghamtion, New York, United States
Work Experience
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2016 - Ongoing)
- Texas State University (2013 - 2016)
- Omaha Public Schools (2011 - 2013)
- Omaha Public Schools (2010 - 2011)
Awards
- Early Career Scholar
- School Psychology Research Collaboration Conference (SPRCC), Spring 2017
- Emerging Scholar
- Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, Spring 2017
- Outstanding Author Contribution, Advances in Race and Ethnicity in Education
- Emerald Publishing, Spring 2017
- Early Career Spotlight
- National Association of School Psychologists, Fall 2016
- College of Education Achievement Award for Scholarly/Creative Activities
- Texas State University, Summer 2016
- Excellence in Diversity Team Award, Project SUPERB
- Texas State University, Summer 2016
- AERA Division G Early Career Scholar Mentoring Seminar
- AERA, Spring 2016
- Favorite Professor
- Alpha Chi, Texas State University, Spring 2016
Licensure & Certification
- Licensed Psychologist, Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners (2017)
- Nationally Certified School Psychologist, National Association of School Psychologists (2011)
Interests
Research
1) The assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse students; 2) Identification of the significant factors, which contribute to the academic success of African American and Latino youth in the K-12 pipeline; and 3) Access to higher education among urban youth
Teaching
Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students; Multicultural Issues in Education; School based Consultation
Courses
2025-26 Courses
-
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2025) -
Intro School Psychology
SERP 549 (Fall 2025)
2024-25 Courses
-
Cult Diversity/Sch Psyc
SERP 559 (Spring 2025) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2025) -
University Fellows Colloquium
GRAD 695 (Spring 2025) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2024) -
University Fellows Colloquium
GRAD 695 (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Cult Diversity/Sch Psyc
SERP 559 (Spring 2024) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2024) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2023) -
Independent Study
SERP 599 (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2022) -
Independent Study
SERP 699 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Cult Diversity/Sch Psyc
SERP 559 (Spring 2022) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2022) -
Independent Study
SERP 599 (Spring 2022) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2021) -
Independent Study
SERP 699 (Fall 2021) -
Psych Consult+Supervisn
SERP 638 (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Summer I 2021) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2021) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2020) -
Psych Consult+Supervisn
SERP 638 (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2020) -
Educ+Psych Assessmnt Chl
SERP 679 (Spring 2020) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2019) -
Independent Study
SERP 699 (Fall 2019) -
Intro School Psychology
SERP 549 (Fall 2019) -
Psych Consult+Supervisn
SERP 638 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
Cult Diversity/Sch Psyc
SERP 559 (Spring 2019) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2019) -
Educ+Psych Assessmnt Chl
SERP 679 (Spring 2019) -
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Fall 2018) -
Psych Consult+Supervisn
SERP 638 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Dissertation
SERP 920 (Spring 2018) -
Educ+Psych Assessmnt Chl
SERP 679 (Spring 2018) -
Cognition + Development
SERP 601 (Fall 2017) -
Psych Consult+Supervisn
SERP 638 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Cult Diversity/Sch Psyc
SERP 559 (Spring 2017) -
Educ+Psych Assessmnt Chl
SERP 679 (Spring 2017) -
Independent Study
SERP 599 (Spring 2017) -
Intrnshp Superv+Coll Tch
SERP 693C (Spring 2017) -
Psych Consult+Supervisn
SERP 638 (Fall 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Chapters
- 2Harris, P. C., Mayes, R. D., Vega, D., & Hines, E. M. (2017). Reaching higher: College and career readiness for African American males with learning disabilities. In Transitioning children with disabilities: From early childhood through adulthood(pp 195-212). Boston, MA: Boston, MA.
- Vega, D. (2017). School changed my life. In Gumbo for the soul: Liberating memoirs and stories to inspire females of color(pp 301-304). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
- Vega, D., & Moore, III, J. L. (2016). Where are all the Latino males in gifted programs?. In Gifted children around the world: Diverse needs, exemplary practices and directions for the future(pp 87-103). United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Journals/Publications
- Vega, D. (2017). Navigating the postsecondary pipeline: The college choice experiences of first-generation, Latino students.. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 1-13. doi:doi:10.1080/10668926.2017.1360219
- Vega, D., Lasser, J., & Fernandez, S. E. (2017). School psychologists’ family-school partnering experiences with Latinos.. Psychology in the Schools, 54(2), 169-182. doi:doi:10.1002/pits.21988
- Garcia-Joslin, J. J., Carrillo, G. L., Guzman, V., Vega, D., Plotts, C., & Lasser, J. (2016). Latino immigration: Preparing school psychologists to meet students’ needs.. School Psychology Quarterly, 31(2), 256-269. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/spq0000136
- Harris, P. C., Mayes, R. D., Vega, D., & Hines, E. M. (2016). Reaching higher: College and career readiness for African American males with learning disabilities.. Journal of African American Males in Education, 7(1), 52-69.
- Harris, P. C., Vega, D., Mayes, R. D., Hines, E. M., & Bennett, III, R. A. (2016). Achievement gap: A look back and a way forward.. Journal of Educational Research & Interdisciplinary Studies, 1(2), 7-15.
- Vega, D. (2016). “Why not me?”: College enrollment and persistence of highachieving, first-generation Latino college students.. School Psychology Forum, 10(3), 307-320.
- Vega, D., Arellano, J. I., & Carrillo, G. L. (2016). The under-identification of Autism among Latino youth: Improving culturally competent training in school psychology programs.. Trainers’ Forum, 34(1), 42-53.
- Vega, D., Hines, E. M., Mayes, R. D., & Harris, P. C. (2016). Preparing Latino students for life after high school: The importance of school counselor and school psychologist collaboration.. National Youth At-Risk Journal, 2(1), 70-82.
- Vega, D., Hines, E., Mayes, R., & Harris, P. (2016). Preparing Latino Students for Life After High School: The Important Role of School Counselors and School Psychologists. National Youth-At-Risk Journal, 2(1). doi:10.20429/nyarj.2016.020107
- Vega, D., Lasser, J., & Afifi, A. F. (2016). School psychologists and the assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse students.. Contemporary School Psychology, 20(3), 218-229. doi:10.1007/s40688-015-0075-5.
Others
- Sullivan, A. L., Harris, B., Medina-Pekofsky, E., Miranda, A. H., Oganes, M., & Vega, D. (2016, October). Recruitment of culturally and linguistically diverse school psychologists in graduate education programs [Position statement]..
