Vanessa Garcia, Data Coordinator at the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI), is interested in quantitative research used to highlight immigrant experiences and communities in the US. Prior to joining ERI, Vanessa helped develop a research project exploring the two-generation model in Head Start schools in the South Los Angeles region. Vanessa was raised in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles, and as a daughter of refugee parents, she hopes to continue learning and supporting immigrant and marginalized communities through social justice work. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the California State University, Fullerton, where she focused on cultural, developmental, and cognitive psychology. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, volunteering in local food drives, and participating in community outreach events.