Belinda Campos, associate professor of Chicano/Latino studies, is the faculty recipient of the 2019 Tom Angell Fellowship. The honor includes a $500 prize recognizing her dedication to student success.

“Belinda has taken her mentoring and service responsibilities seriously throughout her academic career,” says Louis DeSipio, Chicano/Latino studies department chair.

She’s an academic leader in the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) in the School of Medicine where she teaches courses on issues relevant to Latinx medical care, is involved in curriculum development and program design, and counsels graduate students. She’s also an active mentor to undergrads and regularly teaches courses on Chicano/Latino social psychology, culture and relationships. 

“Belinda Campos is one of the most patient, supportive, enthusiastic mentors I have had the privilege of observing - first as a young assistant professor and now as an accomplished scholar,” says Roxane Cohen Silver, professor of psychological science where Campos holds a courtesy appointment. “She always makes time for her mentees, providing careful guidance in their development as young researchers. She is demanding of excellence, while supporting her students' voice and passion. She encourages students to do their best work as they model her thoughtful approach to topics of great importance to her - and to society.”

Her research focuses on the role of sociocultural context in shaping relationships, emotions, and health. Her findings show that contexts that emphasize prioritizing others before the self can be beneficial for relationships and protective of health. Her research has been supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health, and UC Mexus. She is also an associate editor for the Journal of Family Psychology and consulting editor for several other leading journals in the field of psychology. 

Campos received her bachelor’s in psychology from UC Santa Barbara, her Ph.D. in social-personality psychology from UC Berkeley, and was a postdoctoral scholar at UCLA. She joined the UCI faculty in 2007 as a visiting assistant professor in psychology and social behavior and as a regular rank assistant professor in Chicano/Latino studies in 2008. She directs the Culture, Relationships, and Health Lab.

Arianna Brown and Katy Rodriguez Wimberly, graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Guadalupe Diaz, a postdoctoral scholar in the School of Education, are also award recipients in their respective categories. The four women will be honored April 9 at the Mentoring for Achievement and Excellence ceremony, hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence.