She received her doctorate in School Psychology and Masters in Special Education from the University of Oregon. Her research focuses in the development and validation of culturally responsive social-emotional and behavioral interventions for Latino ELL youth and families. For the past 10 years she has directed the Facilitating Universal Emotional Resiliency for the Social and Academic Success (FUERSAS) for ELLs lab. As part of her lab, Dr. Castro-Olivo and her team have validated a culturally responsive SEL program for Latino ELLs and are currently piloting a parent SEL component. Dr. Castro-Olivo has over 15 years of experience working as an interventionist for Spanish-speaking populations in Texas, California and Oregon. She has worked as a bilingual community health educator, social skills trainer, parent trainer, school psychologist, and mental health care provider.