Maria Morales
Maria Morales is a first-year graduate student in the Clinical Science Ph.D. program at Florida International University. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In 2022, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Psychological Science at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Maria’s research has primarily focused on the cognitive effects of bilingualism and the socio-emotional development of linguistically and culturally diverse infants and toddlers. She is currently interested in examining the impact of dual language learning on children who experience emotional and behavioral difficulties. She is also interested in investigating effective ways in which psychologists can disseminate empirical evidence concerning (1) language development and (2) early interventions to newcomer families.
Selected Publications, Presentations, & Posters:
Barrueco, S., Morales, M. C. & Truesdale, L. M. (in press). Assessment of young emergent bilingual children. International Encyclopedia of Education 4th Edition.
Fernandez, M., Banks, J., Gestido, S., & Morales, M. (in press). Bilingualism and the executive function trade-off: A latent variable examination of behavioral and event-related brain potentials. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.
Morales, M. & Barrueco, S. (2022 June 24-26). Behavioral functioning among migrant infants and toddlers [Poster Presentation]. Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues: Reenergizing Ourselves and Our Communities: Connections Across Borders & Barriers, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Macias, M., Harris, E., Morales, M., Chavez, D., Haile, H., & Barrueco, S. (2022, April 7). Examining nationally-representative experiences of maternal depressive symptoms and parenting practices among Migrant and Seasonal Head Start families [Poster presentation]. The Catholic University of America University Research Day, Washington, D.C., United States.
Morales, M. (2019, April 5). Bilingualism and inhibitory control: The advantage of speaking a second language. Oral presentation at Nova Southeastern University Undergraduate Student Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, FL.