Alejandra Arce, PhD (IMPACTO Faculty Director) malejandra.arce@ucr.edu
Dr. Arce (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside. She received her Ph.D. in community and clinical psychology from Georgia State University and her B.A. in psychology with a second major in criminal justice from Florida International University. Dr. Arce’s research spans across the translational science spectrum and aims to: (1) advance theoretical and empirical models of resilience and resistance to oppression through a critical socio-ecological lens, (2) translate basic science into prevention programs that are empowering and facilitate positive developmental and health outcomes, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of community interventions that advance equity efforts.
Dr. Arce will review applications for undergraduate RA positions when spots become available. Of note, Dr. Arce will require 2 to 3 consecutive quarters in the lab as a research assistant before she will consider requests to mentor Honors capstone projects.
If you are an undocumented undergraduate student at UCR, you may be interested in completing an internship with us through the Butterfly Project. Please email Dr. Arce to discuss further.
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Abby Hinojales, B.A. (Lead Research Assistant)
ahino018@ucr.edu
Abby Hinojales (she/her) is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Global and Community Health, graduating in June 2026. She is an aspiring researcher dedicated to understanding how health equity including systemic barriers in perceived knowledge, health literacy, and developmental processes in one’s formative years impact both physical and mental health outcomes in immigrant-origin individuals. She is currently exploring Clinical Psychology programs that further her goal in empowering underserved populations’ mental and subjective well-being in addition to promoting positive health outcomes.
For inquiries about research collaborations or future opportunities, please reach out via email.
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Join our team!
Are you an undergraduate or postbacc student interested in joining our team? We are recruiting Spring 2026, please fill out this form.
Prospective Graduate Students: Dr. Arce is recruiting PhD students for Fall 2026 through the Developmental Psychology area. For the most up-to-date information on the UCR application and admissions process in our department, please visit our graduate admissions website. Please note that UCR does not have a Clinical Psychology PhD program. If your goal is to become a clinical psychologist, consider reviewing the APA list of accredited programs in clinical psychology.
