Graduation Term

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Department of Psychology

Committee Chair

Brea M. Banks

Committee Member

Gregory Braswell

Committee Member

Rocío Rivadeneyra

Committee Member

Maura I. Toro-Morn

Abstract

Racial microaggressions are subtle verbal or nonverbal behaviors that convey hostility and exclusion toward People of Color (Sue et al., 2007). These acts negatively impact the well-being, perceptions of inclusivity, and sense of belonging of marginalized groups in higher education (Solórzano & Pérez Huber, 2020). Black Latiné college students face unique challenges at the intersection of anti-Blackness and racialized Latinidad, compounding the effects of racial microaggressions in historically white institutions (Torres et al., 2012). I conducted a study with 77 Black Latiné undergraduate students from Midwestern universities to examine the relation between racial microaggressions, perceptions of campus climate, and sense of belonging; additionally, I examined whether centrality and colorism moderated these relations. I hypothesized that greater exposure to microaggressions would predict lower perceptions of campus climate and a diminished sense of belonging, with centrality acting as a protective factor and colorism intensifying negative effects. Findings revealed that exposure to microaggressions significantly predicted lower perceptions of campus climate but not sense of belonging. Additionally, lower internalized colorist beliefs amplified the negative effects of microaggressions on campus climate, whereas centrality did not moderate any relation. These results underscore the need for higher education institutions to address systemic inequities and intracommunity dynamics through comprehensive diversity initiatives and identity-affirming spaces.

Access Type

Dissertation-Open Access

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