Executive Director of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence and HealthConnect Fellow
(October 2019-June 2021)
Supporting, advocating, and creating positive outcomes on the health and well-being of Latinx immigrant families and children
For her doctorate dissertation, Dr. Maria Corona conducted rigorous research to understand the lived experiences of Latinx families in Iowa.
Her research was built on the understanding that Latinx families face legal violence—restrictive federal, state, and local immigration enforcement policies and anti-immigrant social climates that have harmful effects and influence and control the lives of Latinx families—and increasing discrimination and oppression are affecting their health and well-being. Corona’s study explored the resilience, regenerative power, and mechanisms that support Latinx parents. Understanding factors that insulate families against legal violence is critical to improving and developing policies and practices that protect and support the health of children and families.
Interviewing families about their experiences was deeply personal for Corona, who is a former undocumented Latinx immigrant woman. She took breaks between interviews to ensure she had time to heal after listening to painful stories and experiencing vicarious trauma. Corona persevered because she recognized how critical the work was for her community. She is now disseminating her findings through publications and presentations in order to influence system-level changes.
Corona successfully graduated with her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University. She received the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award from the Association of American Colleges & Universities in recognition of her work and leadership. She presented her research to the fellows and developed new connections for disseminating her work. After hearing about Corona’s research, one fellow began studying immigration law to better advocate for Latinx families in the hospital system.
In her role as Executive Director of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which she started in January 2021, Corona has been recognized as a leader who advocates for anti-racist approaches for responding to violence in families and the community. She continues to advocate for the Latinx community’s needs and strengths.
