Mica Estrada

Mica Estrada, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute for Health & Aging at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she also serves as Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach for the School of Nursing. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Dr. Estrada has established herself as a leading scholar in social psychology and educational interventions focused on underrepresented populations in STEM fields.

• UC Berkeley BA 1989 Psychology
• Harvard University MA and Ph.D. 1997 Social Psychology
• Harvard University 1993 Program on Negotiation Senior Executive Training
• UC San Francisco 2023 IDEAL Academy
• UC San Francisco 2023 Restorative Justice Community Circle Training

Dr. Estrada's research program centers on social influence, identity formation, values, forgiveness, well-being, and integrative education. Her work is theory-driven, utilizing the Tripartite Integration Model of Social Influence (TIMSI) to design and evaluate educational interventions. She specializes in studying historically underrepresented ethnic populations in higher education, particularly focusing on interventions to increase persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical careers. Her research spans climate change education, mentorship effectiveness, and the psychological impacts of inclusionary practices in academic settings. Dr. Estrada's approach integrates community-based practices with rigorous scientific methodology to address systemic barriers in STEM education.

Analysis of Dr. Estrada's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of impactful research examining social psychological factors in STEM persistence. Her work shows increasing focus on mentorship quality, identity integration, and the role of kindness and community in academic success. Recent publications demonstrate expansion into Indigenous student pathways, gender-specific mentoring programs like PROGRESS, and the development of equity metrics for STEM success. The research consistently applies social psychological theories to practical educational interventions with longitudinal evaluation.

• SACNAS Leadership Institute Graduate (2013)
• HHMI/NIH Joint Working Group on Improving URM Understanding Interventions (2014-2015)
• Adolphus Toliver Award for Outstanding Research (2015)
• National Academy of Science Committee on Strengthening Research Experiences for Undergraduate STEM Students (2017-present)
• Carl A. Grant Scholar NASA (2018-present)
• NASA Education Performance Assessment and Evaluation Expert Review Panel (2022-present)

As Principal Investigator on multiple NIH and NSF grants, Dr. Estrada leads significant research initiatives including 'Scaling Up Culturally Affirming Pathways to Biomedical Faculty Careers for Native Scholars' and 'Studying Inclusive Mentor Networks to Diversify the Biomedical Workforce.' Her collaborative approach engages diverse stakeholders across institutions, with particular emphasis on translating research into practical interventions that support underrepresented students. Dr. Estrada's Climate Education Partners work demonstrates her commitment to applying social psychological principles to address climate change education. She serves on national committees focused on systemic change in STEM education and continues to develop innovative mentorship frameworks through programs like PROGRESS.