took Cultures of Mexico, an in-depth survey of contemporary Mexican culture, including Mexico’s complex history and regional
“To fully understand social influence and human behavior, we have to take into account variations due to cultural, racial, and ethnic differences. As our society becomes more diverse and global, it is becoming more important to understand differences and similarities in cultures to facilitate positive interactions between different groups and overcome negative misconceptions.”—Natalie Shook, PhD
Psychology and Latin American studies double major Jasmine Koech with Latin American studies faculty Victoria Garrett and Pablo Garcia.
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subcultures, Mexican art and literature, linguistic diversity, geography, and politics taught by Pablo Garcia. “I learned so much from Dr. Garcia; it was amazing. I just wanted to learn more,” Koech said. The first-generation McNair Scholar has found a new home on campus, and a place to pursue her education and explore her culture. “At home I really stood out and that was kind of uncomfortable sometimes. When I first moved to West Virginia there were no Hispanic students, no African American students, no Muslims, or Asians in my elementary school. It has grown some, but it wasn’t very diverse. Here I fit in because there is so much more diversity, so many activities, people, and places to discover— places to get involved and belong. I feel even more proud of my heritage here, but I also feel like I blend in more.” Koech says that the Mexican and American sides of her family have different personalities and attitudes related to their differences in culture. A desire to explore those differences is what led to her current research. She is combining her study of social psychology and Latin American studies to understand how attitudes and stereotypes are formed and how that formation differs across race and culture.
In the Department of Psychology, she works with Assistant Professor Natalie Shook. A central theme of the research conducted in Shook’s lab is attitudes—the positive or negative evaluations of people, objects, places, or ideas. Her research group asks how do attitudes develop, what factors can change attitudes, and how do attitudes affect behavior. To answer these questions, they study a variety of topics such as racial prejudice, political opinions, homophobia, consumer choices, and emotional disorders. Shook says that Jasmine’s major in Latin American studies will help her understand and examine the effect of culture on psychological processes and interpersonal interactions. “The goal of social psychology is to understand how external factors and situations affect people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. A primary source of influence is other people. To fully understand social influence and human behavior, we have to take into account variations due to cultural, racial, and ethnic differences. As our society becomes more diverse and global, it is becoming more important to understand differences and similarities in cultures to facilitate positive interactions between different groups and overcome negative misconceptions,” Shook said. Freedom from the Rio Grande to Tierra del Fuego “A major and minor in Latin American studies makes sense economically for the state and it makes sense for our students as we expand globally,” Dean Robert Jones said. “Dr. Tuninetti and the committee have filled a need in an area ripe for growth and partnerships for the whole University, not just the Eberly College. They are opening doors for everyone.” Milan Puskar Dean of the WVU School of Business and Economics Jose “Zito” Sartarelli, who chaired the University’s Roundtable on Global Engagement during its 2020 Strategic Planning process, sees the addition of this program as another building block in the University’s goal to advance international activity and global engagement. “West Virginia led the nation in growth in terms of exports in 2011. We have over 700 companies exporting right now and