My name is Melissa Yzaguirre (she/her/hers) and I am a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Couple and Family Therapy.  My advisor is Dr. Kendal Holtrop.  My research interests center on identity and ethnic-racial socialization with the aspiration to advance current practices among therapists through more inclusive systemic application. My interests have been inspired through both clinical and research experiences from working with Spanish speaking clients, marginalized communities, and involvement in the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) under the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Research and Education Foundation. I am currently involved in research assessing literature on culturally relevant learning and identity development. I also assist with the Interdisciplinary Thematic Area on Increasing Opportunities for Marginalized Youth led by Dr. Emilie Smith. I am also co-leading a Creating Inclusive Excellence Grant awarded through MSU to develop and implement a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Graduate Certificate program. This funded project was inspired through my appointment by the Office of the President as the graduate student representative for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Steering Committee. My professional goals include obtaining a tenure-track position in a couple and family therapy program upon graduation.