Mentoring Underrepresented Communities with Justice and Equity-Oriented Social Science Research

At M.U.J.E.R. Consulting LLC, we provide support to researchers, students, early career-professionals, community leaders, practitioners, and policymakers to create change within their communities. Our team uses both traditional and innovative social science research methods to combat disparities in marginalized communities. M.U.J.E.R. provides research and evaluation support, public speaking, mentoring and training, and translation services.

For decades scholars have conducted a wide range of research studies on marginalized communities. We seek to turn rigorous social science research into actionable and practical steps that our collaborators can use to address issues of inequality in their communities. We also support local communities conducting their own quality research.

About

M.U.J.E.R. Consulting LLC was founded in Houston, Texas in 2025 by Dr. Melissa Villarreal.

Dr. Villarreal received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder. She holds expertise in social science research and qualitative methodology. Her work primarily centers around the post-disaster recovery process of vulnerable populations, though she has led and contributed to several different projects throughout the years. In addition to her own research endeavors, Melissa is an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) postdoctoral scholar at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

SheMeasures Network

M.U.J.E.R. Consulting LLC is a proud co-founder of the SheMeasures Network.

SheMeasures Network is a bold evaluation collective redefining what expertise looks like. Led by women and rooted in equity, justice, and resilience, SheMeasures brings together powerhouse partners: M.U.J.E.R Consulting LLC, specializing in justice-centered qualitative methodologies; Dee Anderson Data Analytics LLC, a leader in big data and rigorous quantitative research; and LEED with Joy LLC, known for transformative course development and grassroots community training in disaster preparedness. Together, we measure what matters—with precision, purpose, and a deep commitment to equity.

Our Services

Research to Action

We collaborate with academic scholars, practitioners, and community organizations to translate research into action, conducting rigorous and ethically-informed research and developing deliverables that address the needs of vulnerable populations.

Public Speaking

We routinely present on our research to disseminate findings in accessible and actionable ways. Presentation channels include academic classrooms, professional webinars and conferences, and community events.

Mentoring & Tutoring

We seek to help diversify social science fields by mentoring and training underrepresented students and early-career professionals, both in one-on-one or one-on-many meetings and by developing training materials.

Translation Services

Our team of native Spanish speakers provide professional translation services. With technical research expertise and cultural competence, our services ensure appropriate and culturally-relevant written and small-group oral translations.

Our Skills

Research & Analysis:

  • Conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups that elucidate new perspectives;

  • Analyzing qualitative data for patterns and themes;

  • Identifying cultural or social factors affecting outcomes;

  • Ensuring ethical and privacy standards in data collection;

  • Creating interview questions that build rapport and encourage deeper reflection; and

  • Assessing community needs to recommend best practices.

Facilitation & Communication:

  • Facilitating engaging trainings;

  • Writing evidence-based and stakeholder-focused reports;

  • Summarizing complex findings into quick-reference briefs and compelling presentations;

  • Translating written materials from English into Spanish and vice versa; and

  • Orally interpreting discussions and presentations in small-group settings from English into Spanish and vice versa.

Strategy & Planning:

  • Designing evaluation plans;

  • Evaluating short-term and long-term impacts of programs;

  • Supporting organizational strategic planning with evidence from data and stakeholder input; and

  • Prioritizing initiatives using evidence from data and stakeholder input.

Portfolio

2025-Current

“Cultivating Wildland Fire Communities of Practice” Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE); U.S. Forest Service

“Reproductive Healthcare Access and Aspirations for College Students During and After Disasters” University of Washington’s Increasing Diversity in and Equitable Access to Applied Learning in Disaster Research Response (IDEAAL DR2) Program; University of Delaware

2017-2024

“Racialization in Disaster: How Mexican-Origin Women Navigate Cumulative Disaster Exposure and Long-Term Housing Recovery,” University of Colorado Boulder

2024

“Equity in Outreach: Reaching Socially Vulnerable Populations with Hurricane Information Across Eastern North Carolina” Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic Prosperity, and Resilience (CHEER) Hub, East Carolina University 

2023-2024

“Colorado Inclusive Language and Access in Emergency Alerts,” Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder; Colorado Legislature

2023

“Bill Anderson Fund and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies: Advancing Research and Practice.”

“Tribal Engagement and Indigenous-Led Public Health Disaster Research Listening Sessions Series,” Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder

2022

“At the Intersection of Bureaucracy and Disaster: Theorizing Bureaucratic Cultures, Rigidities, and Latitude in Interactions with Survivors During Disaster Recovery,” CADAN Network

2021

“Survivors as Experts: A Community Evaluation of Disaster Recovery in Northeast Houston.” West Street Recovery and Northeast Action Collective.

2020

“Working Group: Immigrant Communities and Effective Risk Communication in COVID-19,” CONVERGE, University of Colorado, Boulder 

“Parental Notification and Access to Abortion among Minors in Colorado,” University of Colorado, Denver

2018-2019

“Scholars from Under-Represented Groups in Engineering and the Social Sciences (SURGE) Capacity in Disasters: An Evaluation of a Mentoring Program for Underrepresented Minority Students,” Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder

“Cultural Competence in Hazards and Disaster Research,” CONVERGE, University of Colorado Boulder

“Institutional Review Board (IRB) Procedures and Extreme Events Research,” CONVERGE, University of Colorado Boulder

“Structural Vulnerability and Reproductive Health Among Mexican-Origin Immigrants,” University of Colorado, Denver 

2017-2018

“Evaluation Study of the Gang Reduction Initiative of Denver (GRID),” University of Colorado, Boulder 

2016

“Women’s Experiences in Natural and Man-Made Disasters - A Study of Two Towns in Texas,” Texas A&M University

“Research in Race Relations and Social Psychology: Hoodies, Race, and Threat,” Texas A&M University

“Latino Residential Patterns in New Destinations,” Texas A&M University

Peer Reviewed Publications

Melissa Villarreal, Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, Mary Angelica Painter. “Barriers and Best Practices for Inclusive Emergency Alerts and Warnings.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 125:105581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105581

Painter, Mary Angelica, Melissa Villarreal, and Lori Peek. 2025. “State Hazard Mitigation Plans and Social Vulnerability.” Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 22(2):139-166. https://doi.org/10.1515/jhsem-2024-0023

Villarreal, Melissa. 2023. “Long-Term Housing Recovery Among Mexican Immigrants: How Service Providers Navigate Racialized Anti-Immigrant Disaster Recovery Policies.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 41(1):133-149. https://doi.org/10.1177/02807270231171359

Villarreal, Melissa and Nnenia Campbell. 2023. “Scholars from Under-Represented Groups in Engineering and the Social Sciences (SURGE) Capacity in Disasters: An Evaluation of a Mentoring Program for Underrepresented Minority Students.” Higher Learning Research Communications, 13(1):70-92. 10.18870/hlrc.v13i1.1381

Coleman-Minahan, Kate, Melissa Villarreal, and Goleen Samari. 2023. “The Role of Legal Status and Uncertainty in the Reproductive Aspirations of 1.5 and Second Generation Young Women: An Exploratory Study.” Journal of Migration and Health, 7:2-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2023.100156

Villarreal, Melissa and Michelle Meyer. 2020. “Women’s Experiences Across Disasters - A Study of Two Towns in Texas.” Disasters Journal, 44(2):285-306. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12375

Book Chapters & Reviews

Marino, Elizabeth, Liz Koslov, and Melissa Villarreal. 2024. “Precarious Possessors and ’the Right to (rebuilding) the City’.” People or Property: Legal Contradictions, Climate Resettlement, and the View from Shifting Ground. Pp. 113-130. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-36872-1

Ryder, Stacia and Melissa Villarreal. 2021. Book Review: “Hurricane Harvey’s Aftermath: Place, Race, and Inequality in Disaster Recovery,” by Kevin M. Fitzpatrick and Matthew L. Spialek. Social Forces, 100(2): 1-5. https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/8/article/850371/pdf

Peek, Lori, Jessica Austin, Elizabeth Bittel, Simone Domingue, and Melissa Villarreal. 2020. “Children Take Charge: Helping Behaviors and Organized Action Among Young People After Hurricane Katrina.” Bottom-Up Responses to Crisis, edited by Virgil Storr and Stefanie Haeffele, Pp. 87-111. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-39312-0

Reports & Other Publications

MacPherson-Krutsky, Carson, Mary Angelica Painter, and Melissa Villarreal. 2024. “Inclusive Emergency Alerts for Colorado: An Assessment and Recommendations for Language and Disability Considerations.” Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder. https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/freeform/final-report-12-8-24-eng-report-only.pdf

Hirsch, Ben Lacy, Becky Selle, Doris Brown, Alice Liu, Mal Moses, Mashal Awais, Myrtala Tristan, Ann Weston, Hortencia Hurtado, Vatsala Mundra, and Melissa Villarreal. 2021. “Survivors as Experts: A Community Evaluation of Disaster Recovery in Northeast Houston.” Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder. https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/basicpage/Working%20Paper%20%23110.pdf

Daniels, Lorita C., Joy Semien, Antoine Richards, Akilah Alleyne, Jennifer Blanks, Tiffany Cousins, and Melissa Villarreal. 2018. “The South Bridge Community Assessment.” Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware.

Howes, Satoris S., David Flores, Melissa Villarreal, Bill Hahnenberg, and Jane Darnell. 2025. “How Engaged Scholarship is Helping Combat the Wildfire Crisis.” Industrial and Organizational Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1017/iop.2025.11

Villarreal, Melissa. 2020. “The Impact of the Bill Anderson Fund for Students of Color and Marginalized Communities.” Emerald Publishing Real Impact Blog. https://www.emeraldpublishing.com/news-and-blogs/the-impact-of-the-bill-anderson-fund-for-students-of-color-and-marginalized-communities/

Villarreal, Melissa. 2019. “The Significance of Language in Hazards and Disaster Research and Practice.” Legacy: A William Averette Anderson Magazine.

Villarreal, Melissa. 2020. “What are women’s experiences like during and after disasters?” Sociology Lens. https://www.sociologylens.net/topics/gender/what-are-womens-experiences-like-during-and-after-disasters/28088

Publications of Data, Training, and Teaching Materials

Peek, Lori, David Abramson, and Melissa Villarreal. 2025. “Addressing Challenging Situations in Field Research,” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-sdv5-f28

Villarreal, Melissa, Candace Evans, Mary Painter, Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, and Mary Painter. 2024. “Reflexivity for Ethical Research Engagement with Socially Vulnerable Groups,” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-g0m0-7j63

MacPherson-Krutsky, Carson, Mary Painter, and Melissa Villarreal. 2024. “Developing Partnerships with Socially Vulnerable Populations,” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-qfh8-fs13

MacPherson-Krutsky, Carson, Melissa Villarreal, and Mary Painter. 2024. “Sustaining Partnerships with Socially Vulnerable Populations,” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-dptb-tr35

Evans, Candace, Melissa Villarreal, Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, and Mary Painter. 2024. “Positionality for Ethical Research Engagement with Socially Vulnerable Groups.” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-3xdj-1r25

Painter, Mary Angelica, Melissa Villarreal, and Carson MacPherson-Krutsky. 2024. “How to Develop Research Materials in Languages Other than English.” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-mzwr-gn50

Painter, Mary Angelica, Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, and Melissa Villarreal. 2024. “Enhancing Research Outcomes by Engaging with Decision Makers.” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-v0fz-qf03

Painter, Mary Angelica, Candace Evans, Melissa Villarreal, and Carson MacPherson-Krutsky. 2024. “Creating Accessible Materials for People with Visual or Auditory Disabilities.” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-fc1v-5h68

MacPherson-Krutsky, Carson, Melissa Villarreal, and Painter, Mary. 2024. “Statewide Assessment of Emergency Response Officials,” in Best Practices and Recommendations for Inclusive Emergency Alerts in Colorado. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-j51w-sb88

Painter, Mary, Melissa Villarreal, Chandrika Singh, and Lori Peek. 2024. “2016-2021 State Hazard Mitigation Plans (SHMPs) and Social Vulnerability Qualitative Data,” in State Hazard Mitigation Plans and Social Vulnerability. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-g8tz-qg93

Lefkowitz, Zoe, Melissa Villarreal, Lori Peek, and Alice Fothergill. 2024. “Children and the COVID-19 Pandemic.” DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-gha4-x973 

Villarreal, Melissa, Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, and Mary Angelica Painter. 2023. “Emergency Alerts and Disability Access: An Annotated Bibliography.” Boulder, CO: Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder. https://hazards.colorado.edu/research-projects/colorado-inclusive-Language-and-access-in-emergency-alerts   

Villarreal, Melissa, Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, and Mary Angelica Painter. 2023. “Emergency Alerts and Language Access: An Annotated Bibliography.” Boulder, CO: Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder. https://hazards.colorado.edu/research-projects/colorado-inclusive-language-and-access-in-emergency-alerts 

Painter, Mary, Melissa Villarreal, and Lori Peek. 2023. “2016-2021 State Hazard Mitigation Plans and Social Vulnerability,” in State Hazard Mitigation Plans and Social Vulnerability. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-sc34-as63  

Villarreal, Melissa. 2022. “Part 1: U.S. Disaster Recovery Planning and Policy Documents,” in Documenting the Undocumented: How Mexican Immigrant Women Navigate Long-Term Post-Disaster Housing Recovery and Cumulative Disaster Impacts. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-xqgc-va36 

Villarreal, Melissa. 2022. “Part 2: Planning Documents for Semi-Structured Interviews with Service Providers,” in Documenting the Undocumented: How Mexican Immigrant Women Navigate Long-Term Post-Disaster Housing Recovery and Cumulative Disaster Impacts. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-rnz5-ek06 

Villarreal, Melissa. 2022. “Part 3: Planning Documents for Semi-Structured Interviews with Mexican Immigrant Women,” in Documenting the Undocumented: How Mexican Immigrant Women Navigate Long-Term Post-Disaster Housing Recovery and Cumulative Disaster Impacts. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-5bm1-y393 

Villarreal, Melissa. 2020. “Best Practices for Ethical Post-Disaster Community Outreach and Engagement.” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-zekm-9737 

Villarreal, Melissa. 2020. “Best Practices for Research with Non-English Dominant Populations.” CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-5b9m-sn48 

Wu, Haorui, Melissa Villarreal, Rachel M. Adams, Candace Evans, and Lori Peek. 2020. “CONVERGE Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Extreme Events Research Training Module.” Boulder, CO: Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder. https://converge-training.colorado.edu/courses/institutional-review-board/ 

Wu, Haorui, Rachel M. Adams, Candace Evans, Melissa Villarreal, and Lori Peek. 2020. “CONVERGE Cultural Competence in Hazards and Disaster Research Training Module.” Boulder, CO: Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder. https://converge-training.colorado.edu/courses/cultural-competence 


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