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Biography

Nestor Tulagan (he/him/his) focuses his research on how parents and other social figures (e.g., siblings, teachers, peers, etc.) contribute to the development of achievement motivation and social identities of ethno-racially minoritized adolescents and emerging adults in the United States. His work addresses four interrelated questions. 

1. How do ethno-racially minoritized adolescents and emerging adults develop achievement motivation for important academic domains?
2. How do these individuals connect their achievement motivational beliefs to their social identities, such as racial-ethnic and gender identities?
3. How do social figures (e.g., parents, siblings, teachers, and peers) support adolescents and emerging adults in their academic and social identity development in integrative ways (e.g., how academic socialization pairs with racial-ethnic socialization)? 
4. How do social figures’ support respond to youths’ academic and psychological needs and ameliorate the negative effects of barriers like racism and socioeconomic adversity? 

Tulagan directs the Flourishing, Achievement Motivation, & Identity Research Lab (affectionately called the FAM&I Lab). Visit the  website to learn more.

Grounded in strength-based and promotive theoretical frameworks, Tulagan emphasizes the cultural assets that minoritized individuals possess but are often disregarded by deficit-based research. Aligned with this commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, he has also partnered with local communities and academic programs to deliver research-based and family-informed workshops that aim to enhance parents’ educational support at home.

Tulagan joined the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ in 2023, holding a joint appointment with the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s Warner School of Education and Human Development and the School of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Psychology. Before joining the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ faculty, Professor Tulagan was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral (2020-23) Research Fellow at the University of California in Irvine.