Daniela Recabarren, 2021-11-01

Dr. Daniela Recabarren, Assistant Director for Multicultural and Equity Initiatives for the Center of Counseling and Psychological Services at UNC Charlotte, discusses how being an immigrant has affected her life and worldview. She was born in California to her parents, who immigrated to the United States in the 1970s after dictator General Pinochet came to power. The family moved back to Chile when she was two, and she lived there until she was sixteen, when her family moved to Miami, Florida. She discusses generational differences with her parents, her closeness with her parents, and her gratitude to them for their sacrifices. She reminisces about her life in Chile and the cultural differences with the United States, including close knit extended family life, the sharing of meals and frequent family gatherings she experienced in Chile. She also reflects on her pride in Chilleans for their social and political work to improve diversity and inclusion, while noting the prejudices that still prevail in Chilean society. Dr. Recabarren received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Counseling from the University of Miami, and her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She talks about the challenges she faced as an immigrant entering the US education system and her fears that she could not succeed in college because she internalized the criticisms of people who corrected her English. These experiences drove her own research into student's sense of belonging, the impact of microaggressions on self worth, and how this is tied to college degree attainment. Dr. Recabarren moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2016 and started working for UNC Charlotte at the Center of Counseling and Psychological Services. She discusses her experiences at UNC Charlotte in relation to furthering an understanding of diversity and inclusion, noting that there are obstacles to progress, and suggesting support services that are needed for minority student success. She likes to give back to the Charlotte community by volunteering for the Latin American Coalition (LAC) and the LGBTQIA+ community.