Yeonjeong Seo

Yeonjeong Seo is a doctoral student at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at
Austin. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Social Welfare from Sungkyunkwan University and a
Master’s in Social Welfare from Seoul National University, specializing in mental health and youth risk
behaviors. Her research centers on the intersection of youth risk behaviors, mental health, and
educational outcomes, particularly among marginalized youth.

Her research interests stem from her previous research and mentoring experiences working specifically
with marginalized youth, including out-of-school youth and juvenile justice system-involved youth.
Through these experiences, she has developed a deep interest in comprehending the intersection of
societal vulnerability within the family context and youth engagement in risk behaviors or their mental
health issues. She aspires to investigate how youth risk behaviors are associated with long-term
outcomes such as academic attainment and psychological well-being in adulthood.

Yeonjeong is dedicated to connecting her research with the creation of recovery programs for
marginalized youth involved in risk behaviors, supporting them to pursue meaningful career paths that
are aligned with their values and goals. She also aims to contribute to the development of internet-
based interventions that address mental health issues among marginalized youth, creating comfortable
and accessible spaces for youth to seek help at their convenience.

Currently, Yeonjeong collaborates with Dr. Esther Calzada on an NIH-funded project examining societal
stressors and internalizing symptoms in Latinx youth, with a focus on life-course development and
protective factors. She is also involved in an initiative to support social-emotional learning in pre-K
children.