Melissa Villarreal
About Melissa Villarreal
Melissa Villarreal is a Graduate Research Assistant with a focus on environmental justice and immigration issues. She has worked at the University of Colorado Boulder since 2017 and has conducted research on housing recovery challenges for Mexican-origin immigrants post-Hurricane Harvey.
Work at University of Colorado
Currently, Melissa Villarreal holds the position of Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Colorado Boulder, a role she has maintained since 2017. In addition to her research assistantship, she also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the same institution. Her work at the university spans over seven years, contributing to various academic and research initiatives.
Previous Experience at Texas A&M University
Melissa Villarreal worked at Texas A&M University as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for four months in 2015. During her time there, she supported undergraduate students in their learning processes. Additionally, she served as an Undergraduate Research Assistant from 2015 to 2016, where she engaged in research activities in the Bryan/College Station, Texas area.
Education and Expertise
Melissa Villarreal earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder, completing her studies from 2017 to 2022. Prior to that, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology from Texas A&M University, where she studied from 2012 to 2016. Her academic background provides her with a strong foundation in sociological research and analysis.
Research Interests and Focus
Melissa Villarreal's research interests center on environmental justice, specifically examining the intersection of race, ethnicity, and immigration. Her current research project investigates the impact of anti-immigrant policies on housing recovery for Mexican-origin immigrants following Hurricane Harvey. This project is conducted in Houston, Texas, where she aims to understand the housing recovery challenges faced by this community.