Our Team

We are the CMERI Research Team!

Our team is based at the University of Michigan and is comprised of hard-working and talented graduate and undergraduate students led by primary investigator, Victoria Vezaldenos. While five of our current members identify as Multiracial, two as People of Color, and one as White; all share an interest in the Multiracial experience. As a collective, our ethnic-racial backgrounds and other intersectional identities offer us a diversity of vantage points that we leverage in our work together. Our varied lived experiences with race and racism–whether as Multiracial individuals, transracial adoptees, and/or emerging scholars seeking to better understand oppressive systems–motivate our commitment to amplifying Multiracial voices. In our research we often draw on these unique perspectives, allowing each of us to make meaningful contributions to the team while also interrogating any potential biases.

Research Goals and Motivations

In the Critical Multiracial Ethnic-Racial Identity Project, we aim to center the experiences of Multiracial young people as they themselves come to navigate and make sense of their own complex, intersectional identities. Ultimately we hope to make sense of how Multiracial youth come to understand both their racial backgrounds and systemic oppression concurrently during adolescence. We further hope to apply these findings to the creation of a Critical Multiracial Identity measure. Such a measure will allow for greater visibility of the Multiracial population in academic research while also offering insights into how critical understandings of identity and oppression may support the development of the next generation of youth. These research goals explicitly center a commitment to racial justice. In this work, we strive to challenge systems of oppression that fail to acknowledge complexity and hope to contribute to more inclusive understandings of identity.

Future Directions

At its core, the CMERI Project is not just about creating a tool for researchers, it is about reshaping the way society understands race, identity, and belonging. We envision a world where Multiracial young people are not asked to fragment or simplify who they are, but instead are embraced for the fullness of their complex, intersectional identities. Our hope is that this work helps dismantle monoracist assumptions in research, education, and healthcare, and beyond while building pathways toward greater inclusivity and justice across disciplines. We dream of contributing to a future in which all young people, especially those who are Multiracial, see their experiences recognized as valid, their identities affirmed as whole, and their voices amplified as essential to challenging and transforming systems of oppression.

Read more about our individual team members below!

Victoria Vezaldenos - Primary Investigator

Victoria Vezaldenos is a Doctoral student at the University of Michigan in the Combined Program for Education and Psychology and is leading the Critical Multiracial Ethnic-Racial Identity Project with the support of her Ford Predoctoral Fellowship. She is a first-generation college student from Manteca, CA. She majored in Psychology and minored in Education Studies at UCLA before earning an M.A. in Education Studies and M.S. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. As a Biracial (Mexican and White) woman herself, this work is not only contributing to a gap in the field, but also is a way of exploring her own lived experiences.

‪@vezaldenos.bsky.social‬ | LinkedIn

Brooklin Flaugher - Research Assistant

Brooklin Flaugher is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology with a minor in Religion. As an Asian American, she looks forward to being involved in and contributing to an area of research that is exciting and interesting to her while also having the opportunity to build new connections. Outside of her studies, Brooklin enjoys spending time with her family and friends and visiting local cafes.

Yasmeena Jones - Research Assistant

Yasmeena Jones is a Junior from Baltimore, Maryland, double majoring in Psychology and Sociology of Health and Medicine. She intends to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Health. As a Biracial and Muslim student the work in this lab can add some insight into her own life while contributing to needed research and policies in the academic field. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and especially her cat.

Ella Estabrook - Research Assistant

Ella Estabrook is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Davis, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Public Health. As a mixed-race student, Ella is excited about contributing to a field she is passionate about and expanding our understanding of Multiracial identities. She is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in research connected to her personal experiences and background, while working alongside such a great team.

KayLynn Young- Research Assistant

KayLynn Young is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in Public Health Sciences. Growing up in a predominantly white area, KayLynn has a strong interest in understanding the dynamics of privilege and identity and examining how these factors influence research outcomes. With a passion for uncovering health disparities and inequities in healthcare, KayLynn plans to attend medical school after completing her degree. In her free time, she enjoys long walks outdoors accompanied by her dog and a good book.

Elizabeth Fajardo- Research Assistant

Elizabeth Fajardo is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan studying Biology, Health, and Society. As a Biracial student, she is eager to explore how a Multiracial identity shapes individual experiences and is excited to learn more about it through this research. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the recognition of Multiracial individuals and aspires to advocate for greater representation and support in a career in healthcare and beyond.

Durva Chavarkar- Research Assistant

Durva is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in Neuroscience with plans to pursue a career as a PA in the future. As a future healthcare professional, Durva is eager to contribute to the project, exploring how diverse identities influence health outcomes and healthcare practices. Durva aims to integrate this research into her current and future work in patient care, all while advocating for greater diversity and inclusion in healthcare. In her free time, Durva enjoys exploring new restaurants in downtown Ann Arbor and spending time with friends.

Hayden O'Neal- Research Assistant

Hayden O’Neal is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan studying Psychology with a minor in Community Action and Social Change, as well as a minor in Music. She intends to pursue a Masters Degree in Social Work. As a Biracial student she is passionate about learning about the Multiracial experience. In her free time, she loves playing clarinet, dancing, and spending time at Lake Michigan.

Former Research Assistants