Social Psychology Network

Maintained by Scott Plous, Wesleyan University

Lara Perez-Felkner

Lara Perez-Felkner

Dr. Lara Perez-Felkner is an Associate Professor of Higher Education and Sociology in the Higher Education Program within the College of Education at Florida State University. She is also an Affiliated Faculty member in the Department of Sociology, and Senior Research Associate with FSU’s Center for Postsecondary Success. Additional affiliations: the Center for Higher Education Research, Teaching, and Innovation (CHERTI); the HOPE center for College, Community, and Justice; Pathways to Adulthood, Network Gender and STEM, and the Joint Centers for Education Research and Population Research Center at NORC at the University of Chicago.

Her research uses developmental and sociological perspectives to examine how young people’s social contexts influence their college and career outcomes. She focuses on the mechanisms that shape entry into and persistence in institutions and fields in which they have traditionally been underrepresented. In particular, she investigates racial-ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic disparities in post-secondary educational attainment and entry to scientific career fields. Dr. Perez-Felkner edited and authored a New Directions in Institutional Research volume on undergraduate women in STEM and is co-editing another special issue in International Journal for Gender, Science, and Technology. Published work appears in journals including: Contemporary Sociology, Developmental Psychology, Frontiers in Psychology, Journal of Higher Education, Journal of Latinos and Education, Oxford Bibliographies in Sociology, Perspectives, and Teachers’ College Record, as well in several edited volumes. Her research has been covered in the U.S., Europe, and Asia in news outlets including ABC News and National Public Radio affiliates, Bustle, the Conversation, Hindustan Times, Motherboard (Vice News), Salon, the San Francisco Chronicle, Science News for Students, U.S. News and World Report, and USA Today.

Primary Interests:

  • Attitudes and Beliefs
  • Close Relationships
  • Culture and Ethnicity
  • Gender Psychology
  • Prejudice and Stereotyping
  • Self and Identity
  • Sociology, Social Networks

Note from the Network: The holder of this profile has certified having all necessary rights, licenses, and authorization to post the files listed below. Visitors are welcome to copy or use any files for noncommercial or journalistic purposes provided they credit the profile holder and cite this page as the source.

Image Gallery

Video Gallery

Featured SVG

"Research in a Minute" Interview

Select video to watch

  • "Research in a Minute" Interview


  • Difficulty Orientations, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity


  • Collaborative Collision: Mental and Emotional Health 2021 Poster Presentation


  • "No Jargon": Invisible Barriers to STEM Educatio



Journal Articles:

Other Publications:

Courses Taught:

Lara Perez-Felkner
1205H Stone Building
Florida State University
1114 W. Call Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32306
United States of America

  • Phone: (850) 645-8450

Send a message to Lara Perez-Felkner

Note: You will be emailed a copy of your message.

Psychology Headlines

From Around the World

News Feed (35,797 subscribers)