They don't get much more radical in wanting to destroy America.
Bethany Letiecq is an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development, specializing in the utilization of community-based participatory action research approaches, anti-racist research methods (see
https://cehd.gmu.edu/faculty-and-research/anti-racist-research-methods/), and mixed method designs (e.g., qualitative and quantiative methods) in partnership with minoritized and marginalized families. In her work, she documents the structural forces (law, policies, practices) that cause stressors, erode family health, and hinder family functioning. She also examines the ways families adapt and adjust to and resist structural forces, including structural racism and inequality, to achieve their goals. Guided by community partners, she works to translate research to action for systems change.
Currently, she is working on several projects in Virginia: 1) documenting the lived experiences of Black families residing in public housing targeted for redevelopment; 2) conducting research and action with undocumented immigrant families mainly from Central America to document their health and family and community contexts, including housing and engagement within the public school system; and 3) evaluating family-based health and nutrition interventions with Central American and other immigrant families. Previosuly, she worked in partnership with Native American and White grandparents rearing grandchildren, successfully advocating for law changes in Montana to advance grandparent rights when providing primary care of their grandchildren. She also worked with Mexican migrants to Montana to support access to health care, education-based services, and migrant justice. With her community partners, she co-founded the Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance (MIJA.org), a statewide nonprofit working for immigrant rights, and Amigas de la Comunidad, a NOVA-based community advisory board.
Dr. Letiecq primarily teaches research methods courses. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Marriage and Family and the Journal of Family Theory and Review and has published her research in such professional outlets as Journal of Marriage and Family, Family Relations, Journal of Family Theory and Review, Journal of Family and Community Health, Journal of Family Issues, Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, and Health Education and Behavior. She is affiliated with the National Council on Family Relations (President-elect 2021-2023; President 2023-2025), the Council on Contemporary Families, Law and Society Association, and the American Educational Research Association, among others. She currently serves as the Vice-President of the GMU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and President of the VA Conference of the AAUP.
Email: bletiecq@gmu.edu