Woman of Psychology

Maria Primitiva Paz Root was born in Manila, Philippines in 1955. She moved to Los Angeles, California a short while due to immigration quotas for Filipinos. Maria was raised by her two brothers. While Maria was growing up, she discovered many differences that arose during her childhood due to the fact that she was a child of intercultural, interclass, and interracial relationship. This would spark her interest for her need to discover why these differences occur and how they can be solved.

Maria graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 1977 with a double major in psychology and sociology. This was foundational for placing individual development within group process and historical context. She pursued a Phi) in experimental psychology with an emphasis on cognitive psychology under William Banks at the Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, California. She found that her interest in this subject wasn't fulfilling so she terminated her studies and reapplied to the University of Washington where she took up clinical psychology. She obtained her Ph.D. in 1983.

Shortly after completing her studies, she continued to work in the area of minority mental health, with an emphasis on Asian Americans, mental health. The work that she undertook kept alive the dynamic nature of ethnic identity and the political and historical idiosyncrancies by which race and class influence identity development. This is what Ms. Root is known for and has specialized in since leaving the University of Washington. She has written a vast number of articles and books on the subject of diversity and identity. In 1995, Root took a position as associate professor of American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington. Most recently, she received an award form the Board of the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest for her contribution to psychology.