Gabriel J. Ybarra

Dr. Ybarra grew up in central California in the San Joaquin Valley. He enjoyed a rural upbringing in a area with vineyards and orchards. He was one of four children with their hard-working mother and father. He engaged in football, basketball, and track through high school. He attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate, completing pre-medicine curriculum prior to opting for graduate school. He attended graduate school in Wisconsin, and learned to cross-country ski, snow-shoe, and ice fish while there. He began as a faculty member at the University of North Florida in July 2001 at a time when there were far fewer students and campus buildings than at the current time. As a researcher, he has investigated parent stress response, fatherhood, blanket attachments, psychological intervention treatment outcomes, and the role of school uniforms. He enjoys spending his leisure time with his lovely wife, three young adult children, and family dogs.