Background

Della is a PhD student in the Sociology department at the University of Chicago. She received her BA in Sociology and BS in Statistics at the University of Missouri in 2022. As an undergraduate, her research focused on media portrayal of minority groups. While the impact of mainstream media’s stereotypical portrayals of Black and Latinx individuals on White consumers has been well-researched, her research group focuses on the rarely-studied impact of minority-focused news media—how Black-oriented and Latinx-oriented news media portray minority groups and its effects on racial esteem as a locus of empowerment for Black and Latinx consumers.

Research

Della is interested in how stereotypes play a role in perceived contribution and competence of women and minorities in the college classroom, STEM student outcomes, and positive, strength-based approaches for student retention.