Jennifer Menjivar

Jen has taught Child Development and Psychology across various CSU and UC campuses throughout the state for the last ten years. At San Francisco State, Jen has been teaching Introduction to Applied Child Development (CAD 210) and Children, Youth, and Public Policy (CAD 625) since 2019. As a child of undocumented immigrants from El Salvador and the first in her family to pursue a higher education, she understands the unique challenges that first-generation college students face, which inspires her passion for working with students at SFSU. Prior to dedicating her career to teaching, her doctoral research focused on language and cognitive development in preschool-aged children. Specifically, Jen studied the impact of bilingualism on children’s development and how children respond to speakers of foreign languages. Outside of work, Jen loves going on walks, gardening, and spending time with her son, Ernesto.