Ariana

Ariana Martinez, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. With a background as an educational psychologist, Dr. Martinez focuses her research on two key areas: 1) exploring how students integrate empathy into their daily school lives; and 2) evaluating the impact of equine-assisted activities on student mental health, especially concerning anxiety relief.

Ariana is the principal author of the Empathy Engagement Index, a tool designed to gauge students’ empathetic behaviors and attitudes within educational settings. Much of her work delves into how empathy can be fostered among young learners, with findings published in esteemed journals like Educational Psychology, The Journal of Emotional Learning, and The American Journal of School Psychology.

Outside of her empathy-focused research, Ariana dedicates her time to UCLA’s Equine-Assisted Learning (E.A.L.) initiative, which she co-founded in 2021. This innovative program brings together over 40 certified therapy horses that offer emotional support to college students facing academic challenges. Located at the UCLA Equestrian Center, the E.A.L. project has become a pivotal research center, investigating the benefits of human-animal interactions for both students and community members. Studies from the E.A.L. have appeared in publications such as The Journal of Animal-Assisted Therapy, Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, and Early Childhood Education Journal.

In partnership with Dr. Michael Thompson from Arizona State University, Ariana co-authored the book "Equine-Assisted Interventions: A Guide to Therapeutic Horse-Human Partnerships" (Oxford University Press, 2023). For those interested in learning more about Dr. Martinez's work, her UCLA faculty profile provides extensive information. When not immersed in her professional endeavors, Ariana enjoys spending her free time volunteering at local animal shelters and advocating for animal welfare.