Assistant Professor, Education and African and African American Studies, Fall 2023 | Nichols Lodato’s mixed methods research examines how shock events (e.g., the Great Recession, COVID-19) impact identity development and education outcomes among diverse adolescents and young adults. In her study of the effects of shocks, which have had enduring negative impact on African American communities, she applies an interdisciplinary, strengths-based approach to interrogate the dimensions of context that support or undermine positive identity development. Nichols Lodato’s interest in human development and person-context dynamics is enhanced by her work with community groups advocating for equitable public park policies in urban minoritized communities. Her research agenda engages the effects of endemic inequality and racial discrimination in order to advance social justice and improved education outcomes at the local, state and national levels. Nichols Lodato earned MA degrees in International Studies and Comparative Human Development and a PhD. in Comparative Human Development, all from the University of Chicago.