Name: Maithreyi Gopalan
Title: Assistant Professor of Education
Department: Education Policy Studies
Phone: 814-865-2584
Email: smg632@psu.edu
Office address: 302B Rackley Building
Directory entry: https://ed.psu.edu/directory/smg632
Gopalan, a Penn State Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) co-funded faculty member, conducts research that examines the causes and consequences of racial and socioeconomic disparities in student outcomes using interdisciplinary perspectives. Specifically, she is interested in bringing psychological insights to bear on applied social and educational policy issues. Her research spans the entire pre-k-16 education spectrum. Recently, she explored the key role college students’ sense of belonging plays in improving their academic performance as well as well-being. As part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-institution team, her research has also found that when students develop a growth mindset—the belief that intellectual abilities are not fixed but can be developed—and are supported by key social contextual factors, students can thrive. She earned a doctorate from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs from Indiana University, Bloomington.