Veronica Valencia Gonzalez
(Pronouns: They/She)
I am a Research Assistant Professor and Bridge to Faculty Fellow in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina. My research examines the socio-cultural dynamics and systemic barriers shaping experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence within marginalized communities, with a particular emphasis on Latine populations in both local and global contexts. I hold a PhD in Social Ecology, with emphases on Chicano/Latino Studies and Law, Culture, and Society, from the University of California, Irvine, where I also earned my MA in Social Ecology.
My interdisciplinary work explores how colonial legacies and globalization influence gender-based violence, victimization, colorism, and mental health stigma. Using qualitative and community-engaged approaches, I aim to contribute to culturally informed, policy-relevant solutions that center survivor agency and empowerment.