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Meera E. Deo

Ph.D. Sociology, UCLA, expected June 2009
M.A. Sociology, UCLA, 2005
J.D. Univ. of Michigan Law School, 2000
B.A., High Honors, Interdisciplinary Studies: Comparative Cultures, UC Berkeley, 1996


Office: 8348 Math Science
Fax: 310-206-9838
E-mail: deo@ucla.edu

Subfield

Race/Ethnicity, Law, Higher Education, Immigration

Research Interests

RESEARCH INTERESTS
-Race & Law
-Higher Education
-Law School Diversity
-Affirmative Action
-Immigration

DISSERTATION ABSTRACT
Although many Americans turn to education as a means to generate social equality, institutions of higher learning themselves remain internally stratified, with students of color experiencing lower academic outcomes than whites.

Law schools are especially notable for their intensely competitive environment and inhospitable campus climate. Research indicates that membership in race/ethnic-specific student organizations may help students of color navigate this hostile environment. Two distinct lines of thought within social capital literature point toward different outcomes for members. One suggests that members of race/ethnic-specific student organizations share skills, reinforce norms, and support one another to improve outcomes. The other indicates that joining close-knit groups may limit opportunities to network with members of mainstream organizations, which could be detrimental to success.

My dissertation utilizes a national, longitudinal data set of surveys, focus groups, and interviews with current law students to explore this problem. The central research questions focus on 1) the expectations of law students who join student organizations; and 2) the experiences of law student members of student organizations. I specifically examine similarities and differences by race (i.e., white vs. non-white students) and by organization (i.e., mainstream vs. race/ethnic-specific groups).

Publications

Deo, Meera E. 2008. “India.” Richard T. Schaefer (ed) Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. New York, NY: Russell Sage.

Deo, Meera E. 2007. "Ebbs & Flows: The Courts in Racial Context," 8 Rutgers Race & The Law Review 2.

Deo, Meera E., Walter R. Allen, A.T. Panter, Charles C. Daye, Linda F. Wightman. "Struggles & Support: Diversity in US Law Schools." National Black Law Journal. Forthcoming.

Deo, Meera E., Jenny J. Lee, Christina Chin, Noriko Milman, Nancy Wang Yuen. "Missing in Action: 'Framing' Race on Prime Time Television." Social Justice. Forthcoming.

Chin, Christina, Meera Deo, Jenny Lee, Noriko Milman, and Nancy Wang Yuen. 2006. “Asian Pacific Americans in Prime Time: Setting the Stage.” Asian American Justice Center, Washington D.C. Availble for download at http://www.advancingequality.org/files/aajc_tv_06.pdf

National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC), Nancy Wang Yuen, Christina Chin, Meera E. Deo, Jenny J. Lee, Noriko Milman. 2005. "Asian Pacific Americans in Primetime: Lights, Camera, and Little Action." Washington, DC: NAPALC. Available for download at http://www.advancingequality.org/files/NAPALC_report_final.pdf

Grants and Awards

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (2006–09)

UCLA Alumni Association Outstanding Graduate Student Award (2007)

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans (2005–06)

UCLA Institute for Industrial Relations (2005–06)

UCLA Institute of American Cultures (2004–05)

UCLA Graduate Summer Research Mentorship (Summer 2004)

Edwin W. Pauley Endowed Scholars Fellowship (2003–04)

William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship, ACLU Foundation (2000–01)

Advisors

Walter R. Allen
Min Zhou
Eddie Telles
Devon Carbado (Law)

Conference Presentations

"Safe Space vs. Segregation: Perceptions of Race/Ethnic-Specific Law Student Organizations,"
Sociology of Higher Education Session, ASA Annual Meeting
Boston, August 2008

"More than Friends: The Experience and Influence of Peer Mentoring in Law School,"
AERA Annual Meeting
New York, March 2008

"Legal Ties: The Expectations & Experiences of Members of Law Student Organizations,"
ASA Annual Meeting
New York, August 2007

"From Experience to Attitude: Linking Early Exposure to Diversity with Post-College Affirmative Action Support,"
AERA Annual Meeting
Chicago, April 2007

"Not Paint by Number: How the Race and Gender of Law School Professors Affect the First Year Curriculum,"
AERA Annual Meeting
Chicago, April 2007

“Rationales & Outcomes: Affirmative Action in the U.S. and India,”
ASA Annual Meeting
Montreal, August 2006

“Ebbs & Flows: The Courts in Racial Context,”
ASA Annual Meeting
Montreal, August 2006

“Struggles & Support: Diversity in U.S. Law Schools,”
National Black Law Journal Conference
Los Angeles, November 2005

“Understanding Links between Race and Educational Diversity in U.S. Law Students,”
World Congress of the International Institute of Sociology, Stockholm, Sweden, July 2005

“APIs and the Media,”
CA Asian/Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Annual Policy Summit
Sacramento, June 2005

“Legal Rights Training,”
REACH 2010 Statewide Conference, Long Beach, February 2003
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