Doctoral Student Researches Consequences of Unsupervised Out-of-School Time

Maria Parente, Cohort I Ph.D. Student in the Educational Policy and Social Context Specialization, has been awarded the prestigious Public Impact Fellowship to pursue her dissertation research.

Public Impact Fellowships are awarded to recognize and support those doctoral students whose current or proposed research will have important societal value, and will significantly benefit local, national and/or global communities’ interests. Ms. Parente is pursuing dissertation research to elucidate the individual and contextual conditions in which self care is likely to lead to two key developmental outcomes: academic performance and social behavior. Understanding the impact of these conditions will further research and policy efforts regarding how best to organize out-of-school time for youth.

As a Public Impact Fellowship recipient, Ms. Parente joins an elite group of four UC Irvine students who were selected for 2009 awards. Ms. Parente is advised by Associate Professor Joseph Mahoney.