Karina Martinez

Karina Martinez graduated as a psychologist from Los Andes University in Bogotá, Colombia. She has gained significant experience working on research projects related to youth mental health in vulnerable and armed-conflict settings, as well as community-based psychosocial support initiatives with Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities. Since beginning her Master’s in Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being at Boston University, she has focused her research on early childhood education and well-being. During her internship with the BU Wheelock Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being (EC Institute), Karina is working under the supervision of Dr. Dina Castro on the Nuestros Niños Program and the Construction of the Afro-Peruvian Identity in the Early Childhood Years study. She is also working on the Conexiones Tempranas study under the supervision of Dr. Ruth Paris. 

When describing her experience, Karina mentions, “As an intern at the EC Institute, I have gained a deeper understanding of how research can function as an advocacy tool to shed light on the educational and well-being needs of children aged 0 to 6 in Massachusetts. This internship has also enabled me to bridge the theoretical knowledge acquired in my coursework with the real-world challenges experienced by the early childhood population. Additionally, from my standpoint as a Latina, the work done with Hispanic communities has further underscored the importance of advocating for contextualized and culturally responsive services tailored to their needs—an approach that is equally essential for many other culturally diverse communities.”