March 2026 Spotlight: Dr. Danbi Choe
Dr. Danbi Choe
Q: Can you write a couple sentences on some aspects of your career development?
A: My research focus on Asian immigrant and Asian American children and youth emerged from navigating educational systems across diverse cultural contexts throughout my own journey as a scholar with an international background. Living in regions such as North Carolina, Southern Illinois, and Louisiana, where Asian populations are smaller and community-specific resources are more limited, allowed me to observe firsthand how Asian children and families adapt, persist, and thrive even in settings where they may be among the few. These experiences inspired my commitment to deepening understanding and strengthening support for these communities through my research.
Q: Describe a particular recent finding, current study, or recent publication and what makes you excited about it.
A: I have recently been conducting research focused on Asian emerging adults that examines Asian American assets and barriers, as well as family– and school-based ethnic–racial socialization. Several manuscripts based on this dataset are currently under review or in preparation. One published study that I found particularly exciting showed that youth living in low cultural-resource contexts, such as in Mississippi and Louisiana, demonstrated notable resilience and self-advocacy (Choe et al., 2025). In particular, these youth exercised agency as they navigated U.S. racial dynamics, while also demonstrating an understanding of their parents’ perspectives as immigrants. This work is meaningful because it highlights strengths within understudied Asian American populations and challenges deficit-based narratives, while also informing research and practice related to socialization processes and contextual supports. Additional findings from this dataset are forthcoming and will further contribute to our understanding of how Asian American emerging adults navigate socialization and identity development across diverse contexts.
Choe, D., Shum, K. Z., & Johnson, C. (2025). Silenced stories: Asian American emerging adults’ narratives of parental ethnic–racial socialization. Asian American Journal of Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/aap0000396
Q: Share your reflections on your interactions with the Asian Caucus.
A: My interactions with the Asian Caucus have been both encouraging and grounding. Being part of a community that shares commitments to visibility, representation, and mutual support has been invaluable, particularly as I continue developing my research trajectory. I appreciate the sense of collegiality, the opportunities to learn from others' experiences, and the ways the Caucus creates space for both established and emerging scholars. I look forward to continued engagement and collaboration.
Q: Any upcoming talks or presentations we should know about?
A: I will be presenting at NASP and AERA on teacher victimization and mental health in South Korea, examining harassment toward teachers by students and parents and its impact on educators’ mental health and well-being. This project represents a complementary line of research to my primary focus on children and families, and it is especially meaningful to me because it addresses an urgent social issue within Korean educational contexts while connecting to my prior experience as an elementary school teacher, a role I deeply valued. I am excited to contribute to conversations about educator well-being and school climate while bridging my practice background with research.