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GSE Profiles

Zena R. Mello
Post-Doctoral Scholar
Sponsor: Frank C. Worrell
Office: 4310 Tolman
Phone: (510) 643-4798
Email: mello at berkeley.edu
Website:
Staff Contact: Caron D. Williams
Office: 4511 Tolman Hall
Phone: (510) 642-4202
Email: caronw at berkeley.edu

degrees | experience | courses | publications | presentations | projects | honors | activities | affiliations | interests | cv(pdf)
Z
ena R. Mello is a Postdoctoral Fellow. Her research focuses on psychological factors that may foster the well-being of racial/ethnic minority and low-socioeconomic status adolescents including (a) the conceptualization and measurement of time perspective, a concept that refers to thoughts and attitudes toward the past, the present, and the future and (b) topics specific to diverse groups such as perceptions of barriers to school and work and stereotype threat. Her research is interdisciplinary, drawing from human development, psychology, and sociological fields, as well as quantitative and qualitative methods.

Degrees
Ph.D. Human Development & Family Studies, Penn State
B.A. Psychology, University of California at Santa Cruz

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Professional Experience
Administration
Administrative Assistant (1994-1997), Bilingual Research Center and the National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity and Second Language Learning, University of California, Santa Cruz. Supervised qualitative data analysis; federal grant budgets.

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Courses and Professional Programs
Graduate Instructor, The University of California, Berkeley
Psychosocial Development: Identity, Culture, and Education

Undergraduate Instructor, The Pennsylvania State University
Introduction to Adolescent Development
Advanced Infant Development

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Publications

Articles (Refereed Journals, Proceeding)
Refereed Manuscripts
Mello, Z. R. (in press). Racial/ethnic group and socioeconomic status variation in educational and occupational expectations from adolescence to adulthood. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology.

Mello, Z. R., Bhadare, D., Fearn, E. J., Galaviz, M. Hartmann, E., & Worrell, F. C. (in press). The Window, the River, and the Novel: Examining Adolescents' Conceptions of the Past, the Present, and the Future. Adolescence.
Mello, Z. R. & Worrell, F. C. (2008). Gender variation in extracurricular activity participation and perceived life chances in Trinidad and Tobago adolescents. Psykhe, 2, 91-102
Mello, Z. R. (2008). Gender variation in developmental trajectories of educational and occupational expectations and attainment from adolescence to adulthood. Developmental Psychology 44, 1069-1080.
Mello, Z. R., & Swanson, D. P. (2007). Gender differences in African American adolescents' personal, educational, and occupational expectations and perceptions of neighborhood quality. Journal of Black Psychology, 33, 150-168.
Worrell, F. C., & Mello, Z. R. (2007). Reliability and validity of Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory scores in academically talented adolescents, Educational and Psychological Measurement, 67, 487-504.
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (2006). Time perspective, age, gender, and academic achievement in academically talented adolescents. Journal for the Education of the Gifted , 29, 271-289.

Refereed Manuscripts Under Review
Mello, Z. R., Roberts, K., & Worrell, F. C. A longitudinal investigation of African American males' educational and occupational expectations and subsequent attainment.
Mello, Z. R., Worrell, F. C, & Andretta, J. R. Variation in how frequently adolescents think about the past, the present, and the future in relation to academic achievement.
Worrell, F. C. & Mello, Z. R. Convergent and discriminant validity of time attitude scores on the Adolescent Time Perspective Inventory.

Monographs/Technical & Research Reports
Burton, L. M., Tubbs, C. Y., Odoms, A., Oh, H. J., Mello, Z. R., & Cherlin, A. (2002, September). Welfare Reform, Poverty, and Health: Ethnographic Perspectives on Health Status and Health Insurance Coverage in Low-income Families. Report submitted to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Other Papers/Reports/Op-Eds/Computer Programs
Mello, Z. R. (in press). An introduction to the young scholar's corner. International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development Newsletter, 32.
Mello, Z. R. (2007). Considering today's teenager: A contemporary perspective on adolescence. Teacher Education , 18, (4), pp. 369-371.
Mello, Z. R. (2004). Graduate student profile. Society for Research on Adolescence, Newsletter, Spring Issue.
Mello, Z. R. (2000, Fall). What goes around comes around: Volunteering for professional and personal development. Society for Research on Child Development, Newsletter, V43, n4.
Matlock, T., Gutierrez-Rivas, H., Lippman, D., Mello, Z. R., & McLaughlin, B. (1998). Knowledge of polysemous word meaning in bilingual and monolingual children. Report for U.S. Department of Education, R306F60077.

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Presentations

Invited
Mello, Z. R. (2007, June). Adolescent time perspective: Conceptual and measurement issues. Invited paper presented at the German Institute for International Educational Research, University of Frankfurt, Germany.
Mello, Z. R. (2007, April). Examining adolescent time perspective in the context of parental and neighborhood socioeconomic status. International Seminar on the Psychology of Adolescence: Contexts of development, challenges, and solutions. Pontificia Catholic University, Santiago, Chile.
Mello, Z. R. (2006, May). Time perspective among racial/ethnic minority and low-socioeconomic status adolescents. Invited paper presented to the Psychology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA.
Mello, Z. R. (2002, November). The relationship between future orientation and academic achievement among low-income African American adolescents. Invited paper presented at the annual African American Success Foundation Summit, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Papers
Chaired Symposia
Mello, Z. R. (2006, March). International perspectives on occupational future orientations from adolescence to adulthood in familial and social contexts. Symposium presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.
Mello, Z. R., & Martinez, L. M. (2004, July), Time and money An international perspective on adolescents' future orientations across family and socioeconomic contexts. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Ghent, Belgium.
Mello, Z. R., & Gardner, N. P. (2004, March), Thinking about the future: Adolescents negotiation across contexts of school, work, and neighborhood. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.
Swanson, D. P, & Mello, Z. R. (2003, April), Across time and place: The future orientation of early to late-adolescents in varied contexts. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Tampa, FL.
Paper Presentations
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (2008, July). The Adolescent Time Perspective Inventory: Development and preliminary validity evidence. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Postdoctoral Fellows Retreat, National Harbor, Maryland.
Mello, Z. R. (2007, April). Time perspective: Examining how adolescents think about the past, the present, and the future. Paper presented at the Human Development Colloquium, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.
Mello, Z. R., Roberts, K., & Worrell, F. C. (2007, March). Examining the Link between Adolescent Educational Expectations and Adult Educational Attainment among African American Males. In D. Wood (Chair), Future orientation and the gender gap in African American achievement. Symposium accepted for presentation at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Boston, MA.
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (2006, March). Developmental trajectories of occupational expectations from adolescence to adulthood by socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity. In Z. R. Mello (Chair), International perspectives on occupational future orientations from adolescence to adulthood in familial and social contexts. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.
Mello, Z. R. (2004, July). The development of U.S.A. adolescents educational expectations by parental socioeconomic status. In Z. R. Mello, & L. M. Martinez (Chairs), Time and money: An international perspective on adolescents' future orientations across family and socioeconomic contexts. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Ghent, Belgium.
Mello, Z. R. (2004, April). Educational expectations from adolescence to adulthood: Examining variation by parental socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic group. In Hood, D. (Chair), High school and beyond: Adolescents' schooling and development. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.
Mello, Z. R., & Swanson, D. P. (2004, March). Gender differences in African American adolescents' expectations, neighborhood quality, and occupational opportunity. In Z. R. Mello & N. P. Gardner (Chairs), Thinking about the future: Adolescents' negotiation across contexts of school, work, and neighborhood. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.
Mello, Z. R., & Swanson, D. P. (2003, April). Planning for the future: Gender differences in African American adolescents' future orientation. In D. P. Swanson & Z. R. Mello (Chairs), Across time and place: The future orientation of early to late-adolescents in varied contexts. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Tampa, FL.
Cooper, C.R., Cooper, R. C., Chavira, G., Mello, Z. R., & Mikluski, D. (2002, August). The role of families in identity development and pathways to college: Both challenges and resources for African American and Latino Youth. In C. R. Cooper & R. Seginer (Chairs), Families and Culture in Adolescent Future Orientation and Identity Development. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Ottawa, Canada.
Worrell, F. C., & Mello, Z. R. (2002, June). Reliability and validity of Zimbardo Time Perspective Scores in academically talented adolescents. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on the Social Sciences, Honolulu.
Swanson, D. P., & Mello, Z. R. (2001, April). Racial identity and spirituality: Developing perspectives on life. In S. G. Fegley & D. P. Swanson (Chairs), Identity, spirituality, and resilience: Connecting the missing link. Paper symposium conducted at the meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Cooper, C. R., Azmitia, M., Cooper, R. G., Lopez, E. M., Dunbar, N., Figueroa, J., & Mello, Z. R. (1996, April). Language minority students' multiple worlds: African American and Latino youth in academic outreach programs. In P. Gandara (Chair), Bridging elementary, secondary, and higher education: Access, opportunities and achievement. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Linguistic Minority Research Institute, Sacramento, CA.
Poster Presentations
Worrell, F. C., Mello, Z. R., & Buhl, M. (July, 2008). Examining English and German Versions of an Adolescent Time Perspective Measure. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Würzburg, Germany.
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (July, 2008). Racial/Ethnic and Gender Variation in Adolescents÷ Perceptions of Barriers. Poster presented at the biannual meeting of the International School Psychology Association, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Mello, Z. R., Worrell, F. C., & Bhadare, R. (May, 2008). Using Circle Figures Indicating the Past, the Present, and the Future to Predict Academic Achievement in Adolescents. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, Turin, Italy.
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (March, 2008). Time Perspective Measurement, Perceptions of Barriers, and Stereotype Threat in Racially/Ethnically Diverse Adolescents. Poster presented at the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, New York City, NY.
Worrell, F. C., Mello, Z. R., Mallett, R. K., & Andretta, J. (May, 2008). Using Stereotype Threat and Ethnic Identity to Predict Academic Achievement in Diverse Adolescents in the U.S. Poster to be presented at the biennial meeting of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, Turin, Italy.
Andretta, J., Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (March, 2008). Adolescent Time Perspective Attitudes in Relation to Gender and Racial/Ethnic Group. Poster presented at the annual Graduate Research Exhibition, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.
Roberts, K., Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (March, 2008). Predicting Hispanic Adolescents÷ High School Dropout Status with Educational Expectations. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL.
Buhl, M., Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (March, 2008). Examining Validity and Reliability Evidence for Adolescent Time Perspective Measure (ATPM) Scores in a German Sample. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL.
Mello, Z. R. Andretta, J. Bhadare, D. Fearn, E., Galaviz, M., Hartmann, L., Young, A., & Worrell, F. C. (August, 2007). Adolescent time perspective: Temporal dimensions and implications for psychological development. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Simmons, C. M., Soto, C. M., Worrell, F. C., Anguiano, R., Brett, J., Holman, A., Martin, J. F., Hata, H. K., Roberts, K. J., Mello, Z. R., & Schaefer, B. A. (August, 2007). Validity of Child Behavior Checklist Scores in a Peruvian Sample. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Mello, Z. R., Swanson, D. P., & Worrell, F. C. (2006, July). Gender differences in African American adolescents' future expectations and perceptions of neighborhood quality. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Melbourne, Australia.
Worrell, F. C., & Mello, Z. R. (2006, July). Perceived life chances: Establishing construct validity. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development, Melbourne, Australia.
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (2006, May). Variation in time perspective scores by age, gender, and academic achievement among adolescents in the U.S.A. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, Antalya, Turkey.
Worrell, F. C., & Mello, Z. R. (2006, May). Self-concept scores in Trinidadian adolescents. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, Antalya, Turkey.
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (2006, April). Developmental trajectories of educational and occupational expectations from adolescence to adulthood: Examining variation by parental education, occupation, and income. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
Mello, Z. R. (2006, March). Gender differences in developmental trajectories of occupational expectations from adolescence to adulthood. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.
Mello, Z. R. (2005, April). Developmental trajectories of educational expectations by racial/ethnic group and gender. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Atlanta, GA.
Mello, Z. R. (2004, March). Adolescents' educational expectations, socioeconomic status, and racial/ethnic group membership. In D. P. Swanson & E. Loken (Chairs), Special Student Poster Symposium. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.
Mello, Z. R., & Swanson, D. P. (2003, June). Tomorrow's forecast: Future expectations as a protective factor among low-income African American adolescents. Poster session presented at Sixth Annual Summer Institute on Developmental Science, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Mello, Z. R. (2003, April). African American adolescents' future orientation in the context of perceived family conflict and self-esteem. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Tampa, Florida.
Mello, Z. R., & Swanson, D. P. (2002, April). Looking ahead: African American adolescents' future orientation and academic achievement. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, New Orleans, LA.
Swanson, D. P., Cunningham, M., Dotterer, A., & Mello, Z. R. (2002, April). Beneath the surface: Alternative determinants of aggressive attitudes among African American adolescent males. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, New Orleans,LA.
Mello, Z. R. (2001, April). Tomorrow's forecast: Future orientation as a protective factor among low-income African American adolescents. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, MN.
Swanson, D. P., & Mello, Z. R. (2000, March/April). Eurocentric attitudes and differential gender effects on achievement attitudes. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL.
Mello, Z. R. (1999, April). Young African American mothers' future orientation: Do neighborhood and school contexts matter? Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Albuquerque, NM.
Mello, Z. R., & Burton, L. M (1999, March). Looking to the future: Expectations and perceptions of young African American mothers. Poster session presented at the Annual Graduate Research Exposition, The Pennsylvania State University, PA.
Mello, Z. R., & Burton, L. M. (1998, August). Looking to the future: Expectations and perceptions of young African American mothers in high-risk environments. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Mello, Z. R. (1998, February). Pathways of identity exploration in Latino and African American students participating in university academic outreach programs. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Diego, CA.
Harrington, D. M., Sanders, P. E., Chin, S. C., Mello, Z. R., & Rickey, A. D. (1997, April). Creative activities as means by which adolescent's address various developmental tasks. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Washington, DC.
Mohr, J., Harrington, D. M., Sanders, P. E., Chin, S. C., Mello, Z. R., & Rickey, A. D. (1997, April). An Attachment-Theoretical Perspective on Adolescent Artistic Activity. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Washington, DC.

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Major Projects and Grants
Mello, Z. R., & Worrell, F. C. (2005-2008). Investigating time perspective and educational attainment among racially/ethnically diverse and low-socioeconomic status adolescents. American Educational Research Association/Institute for Educational Sciences. Post-doctoral fellowship grant. $244,000.00.
Mello, Z. R. (2003-2004). Across time and place: The development of adolescents' educational and occupational expectations in the context of parental and neighborhood socioeconomic status. American Educational Research Association/National Science Foundation Dissertation Grant #REC-990573; $15,000.00.
Mello, Z. R. (2000-2001). Time is on our side: The relationship between future orientation and academic achievement among African American adolescents. African American Success Foundation; Educational Grant $1,000.00.

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Honors and Awards
2007 Human Development Outstanding Dissertation Award, Div. E, AERA
2004-2005 Educational Equity Travel Support, Penn State
2003 Rose Cologne Volunteer of the Year, Council for Human Services, PA
2003 R. Paul Campbell Volunteer of the Year, Council for Human Services, PA
2002 Kappa Omicron Nu National Honor Society Initiation
2000 Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation Educational Award
2000 Stormbreak Runaway and Homeless Shelter Volunteer Award, PA
1994 Service Award, University of California at Santa Cruz

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Professional Activities

Professional and Government Committees
Professional
2007 Invited reviewer for Society for Research on Adolescence biennial conference submissions.
2006-2010 Young Scholar Representative, International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development.
2004-2008 Student/New Professional Representative, Society for Research on Adolescence.

Editorial and Review Positions
Editorial
Educational and Psychological Measurement
Journal of Adolescence
Journal of Adolescent Research
Journal of Research on Adolescence
Urban Education
Sociology of Education

Consultancies
Statistical Consulting
2006 Multilevel modeling: Nesting, trajectories, & dyads. University of California, Santa Cruz, Psychology Faculty: M. Azmitia, D. Harrington, and C. Leaper.

Professional Service
Mentoring and Volunteering Experience
2007-2008 Alternative Learning Community Volunteer, Oakland, California
2007 McNair Undergraduate Mentor, University of California, Berkeley
2006-2007 Ralph J. Bunche Middle School Volunteer, Oakland, California
2005 Volunteer at Stormbreak Runaway & Homeless Shelter, Penn State
2001 Upward Bound Math and Science Student Mentor, Penn State

University and GSE Service
2005 Member, Research & Development Committee for California Prep High School, University of California, Berkeley
2005 to 2006 Board Member, Berkeley Postdoctoral Association, University of California, Berkeley
2001 to 2002 Department Head Search Committee Student Representative Human Development & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
2001 to 2002 Faculty Departmental Meeting Student Representative Human Development & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
1998 to 1999 Co-Chair Graduate Student Steering Committee, Human Development & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
1997 to 1998 Graduate Student Association Student Representative, Human Development & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University

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Professional Affiliations and Memberships
American Educational Research Association
International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development
Society for Research on Adolescence
Society for Research on Child Development

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Areas of Specialization / Interests
Achievement Issues
Adolescence
At-Risk Youth
Child Development
Cognitive Development
Diversity
Ethnic Issues
Minorities
Poverty and Children
Research Methods
Social and Emotional Development

degrees | experience | courses | publications | presentations | projects | honors | activities | affiliations | interests | cv(pdf)

Last Modified: 2/11/09