2022 Incoming Grad Series: Veronica Wilson

THE STORY

I was born and raised in Sacramento, California. I completed my undergraduate education at Sacramento State University in Interpersonal Communication and completed a Masters degree in Communication Management at University of Southern California. I am now joining UCSB's Department of Communication as a PhD student. My research focuses on the intersection of health and interpersonal and family communication. Family and community are important to me. I am very proud of my Greek heritage and I am a service-oriented individual. Last summer, I spent one month working with abandoned and at-risk youth from Greece, and refugees and unaccompanied refugee minors from West Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. This experience helped me to better understand the urgent state of the refugee crisis, the day-to-day reality of refugees in Greece, the particular needs of refugee children, and best practices for working with refugee children. It also helped me to connect with my family history and culture. My great-grandmother became a refugee after the Burning of Smyrna, and my volunteer work took place on Chios and Samos, the islands my family emigrated from.

WHY UCSB

UCSB was a clear choice to pursue my educational goals, primarily because of the unparalleled research and mentorship opportunities in the Communication department. There are so many wonderful qualities of UCSB as a whole, but the student-centered culture stood out to me in particular. I love being active and outdoors, so I was also drawn to the beautiful campus and surrounding environment. UCSB is the perfect place for me to grow as a scholar.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

I primarily investigate psychosocial determinants of well-being and how these factors influence life outcomes for vulnerable populations. More specifically, my research focuses on mental health and components of wellness such as stress management, emotion regulation, resilience, thriving, and social support.

FUN FACTS

I enjoy being active in nature and engaging in activities like hiking, kayaking, disc golf and paddleboarding. My favorite video game of all time is Super Smash Bros and I love playing board games like backgammon.

I am also the author of "Rio the Raccoon", a popular children's book designed to jumpstart the conversation about mental health and help children bounce back quicker from life's challenges. Check out a video interview about the book here.