EMPOWER Research Lab

Welcome to the EMPOWER Research Lab at the University of California, Riverside, directed by Dr. Eui Kyung Kim. We study how students’ strengths, well-being, and sense of belonging develop within the cultural and educational settings that surround them. Our work centers the experiences of racially and ethnically minoritized and immigrant students, families, educators, and emerging professionals across K–12 schools and higher education.

Our research spans three broad areas: culture and social-emotional development; school climate and racialized experiences; and equity in graduate education and professional training. Across these areas, we examine how relationships, expectations, and institutional practices influence students’ and educators’ experiences and opportunities to thrive.

The EMPOWER Lab also provides students with opportunities to develop meaningful research questions, contribute to collaborative projects, and engage with different forms of inquiry. Through research, mentorship, and partnerships with educational communities, we seek to produce scholarship that is rigorous, useful, and responsive to the people and settings it seeks to understand.