Malina Banavong Maladore, a 2024 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University’s New England campus, recently published her dissertation entitled, The Impact of Asian American Cultural Centers on Sense of Belongingness for Asia American Undergraduate Students.
This dissertation looks into how cultural centers and experiences of microaggressions affect the ethnic identity of Asian American undergraduates in U.S. colleges. The study, involving 175 participants, found that students who reported facing microaggressions felt a stronger sense of ethnic belonging at universities with cultural centers. The findings suggest that cultural centers help boost students’ sense of belonging and strengthen their ethnic identity, even in the face of microaggressions. However, this process is influenced by a mix of social, cultural, and personal factors. The research highlights the need for more inclusive campus environments and calls for further studies on how cultural centers and other elements shape the experiences and identity development of Asian American students.
Maladore is a first-generation Laotian American who was born and raised in Connecticut. She completed her bachelor’s at the University of Connecticut and her master’s at the University of New Haven. Maladore’s passion and clinical experience lie predominantly in college counseling centers, where she thrives in college counseling, teaching, consultation, and community engagement. Her research and clinical work focus on the often-overlooked needs of underserved racial/ethnic minority student populations.
Learn more about Maladore and read her full dissertation, The Impact of Asian American Cultural Centers on Sense of Belongingness for Asia American Undergraduate Students, here.
