¡BIENESTAR!

¡BIENESTAR! co-lab leader

• Pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia
• Completed M.Ed. in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Georgia

Research interests:: Alondra’s research interests and clinical work centers the experiences of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and low-income communities impacted by structural violence. Her research also explores the mental health impacts of ICE detention and deportation, with a focus on how community organizers and advocates mobilize care, resistance, and healing. Alondra is passionate about bridging the gap between community organizing and psychology by grounding their work in decolonial, feminist, and social justice frameworks.

¡BIENESTAR! co-lab leader

• Pursuing a B.S. in psychology; B.A. in cognitive science and minor in social work at the University of Georgia

Research interests: Tori is interested in the use of community-based methods in research and intervention development. Specifically, she is interested in collaborations between immigrant, Latine, and other communities with researchers and mental health practitioners. Other research interests of Tori’s include intergenerational family systems, Latin American history, and health psychology.

• Pursuing Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia
• Completed M.S. in professional counseling at the University of Georgia
• Completed B.S. in psychology and minor in woman’s and gender studies at Valdosta State University

Research interests: Monica is interested in supervision practices in trauma-intensive sites, healing from traumatic experiences in the Latine community, and immigrant mother-daughter conversations as a space for healing. Other research interests include feminist and decolonial psychological practices.

Employment: Monica also works as a Goizueta Graduate Assistant Scholar with the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education (CLASE) at the University of Georgia. As a CLASE Goizueta Scholar, her work focuses on capturing the narratives of the educational experiences of Latine individuals in the South. She also supports the editorial team for the Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies (JOLLAS) special issue on Latines in the U.S. South.

• Pursuing Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia
• Completed M.S. in psychology at Arizona State University
• Completed B.S. in health psychology and minor in music at the University of California, San Diego

Research interests: Natalie is interested in adapting and tailoring integrated physical and mental health interventions for marginalized populations. Specific populations of interest include cultural minorities, persons with disabilities, and athletes. Other research interests include cultural influences on well-being, physical and mental health interactions, exercise, and mindfulness.

Employment: Natalie works as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Georgia where she teaches a research methods course for undergraduates. She also works as a clinician-in-training at the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation at the University of Georgia.

• Pursuing Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia
• Completed M.A. in clinical psychology at the Teachers College, Columbia University
• Completed B.A. in psychology and minor in theater art at Brandeis University

Research interests: Yinan is interested in researching Asian and Asian American mental health, resilience and cultural strength, multicultural identity development, intersectionality, somatic symptoms, suicidal ideation, and mentorship.

Employment: Yinan currently works as a clinical graduate assistant for Mary Frances Early College of Education and Student Affairs. She provides bilingual psychotherapy for Chinese students at UGA and advocates for underserved populations with mental health support. She also serves as subcommittee chair of the International Mentoring and Orientation Committee and as a campus representative for positive psychology within APA Division 17 of the Society of Counseling Psychology.

• Pursuing Ph.D. in counseling psychology (clinical health psychology and clinical neuropsychology) at the University of Georgia
• Completed M.S. in mental health counseling (clinical) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
• Completed B.A. in psychology and minor in biology (post-bachelorette studies in biology and Spanish) at North Carolina Central University

Research interests: Mandy’s broader research focuses on advancing health equity and neuropsychological assessment in medically complex and underserved populations. Her work centers on promoting equity in care for historically underserved groups, with a focus on individuals of Latinx, Indigenous/Native American, and Black/African descent, as well as rural communities, veterans, and older adults. She has a particular interest in cognitive aging, with an emphasis on how sociocultural and medical factors intersect to shape neurocognitive trajectories across the lifespan. She explores culturally and linguistically appropriate neuropsychological testing, aiming to expand the evidence base for inclusive assessment practices that recognize the intersection of language, culture, and medical complexity, with specific attention to how these factors influence cognitive health. Clinically, she is interested in interventions informed by medical and cultural neuropsychology to support adjustment to neurocognitive changes within a biopsychosocial framework. Additionally, she is engaged in integrated behavioral healthcare, behavioral pharmacotherapy management, and clinical supervision.

Employment: Mandy currently provides inpatient neuropsychological assessments at a comprehensive medical center and a critical illness recovery hospital. In addition, she is the instructor of record for the undergraduate course “Drug and Alcohol Abuse Issues” in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services at the University of Georgia.

• Pursuing M.Ed. in college student affairs administration at the University of Georgia
• Completed B.S. in business administration; B.A. in Spanish at Barton College

Research interests: Amy is highly interested in researching the college experience of Latinx students, specifically at PWIs in the southeast. Some topics include how sense of belonging impacts Latinx student retention at PWIs, the socialization of Latinx students who come from mixed-status families, and Latina student adjustments, interest, and social experiences in Panhellenic sororities.

Employment: Amy is a graduate assistant in the UGA Career Center where she provides career services. She specifically supports science majors and early alumni. Amy also serves as the vice president of membership in the College Student Affairs Administration Graduate Association.

• Pursuing Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia
• Completed M.Ed. in athletic counseling at Springfield College
• Completed B.A. in psychology; B.A. in Spanish; and minor in communication studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Research interests: Thomas’ research interests broadly involve athlete mental health and men and masculinities. His background working with athletes and Spanish-speaking folks informs his research interests as Thomas views science and practice as interwoven parts of being a culturally-informed counseling psychologist. Specifically, Thomas is interested in exploring the gender role socialization of male athletes in college athletics and how that, in turn, affects their mental health, help-seeking attitudes, and behaviors. In a similar vein, Thomas is interested in examining the role of masculine ideologies, such as machismo, and their impact on men’s mental health. With this research, Thomas hopes to help construct a view of masculinity that invites vulnerability and views seeking help as strengths, not weaknesses. Though these are his main interests, Thomas likes to work on projects related to trauma, acculturative stress, and positive psychology.

Employment: As a psychologist-in-training, Thomas is currently working as a graduate teaching assistant in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. Additionally, Thomas is receiving clinical training at the University of Georgia’s Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.

• Pursuing Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Georgia
• Completed B.S. and M.S. in criminology at Florida State University
• Completed M.Ed. in mental health counseling at the University of Georgia

Research interests: Jack is interested in studying the intersection of trauma, incarceration, and mental health. His background in criminology draws him to the stories and experiences of individuals who have spent time detained. This focus includes those incarcerated for an alleged criminal offense, as well as those detained for immigration-related concerns. Jack is especially interested in how people cope with trauma experienced during juvenile detention.

Employment: Jack is currently a teaching assistant in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. Jack is also conducting clinical work as a counselor at the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation at the University of Georgia.

• Pursuing M.Ed. in professional counseling (clinical mental health) at the University of Georgia
• Completed B.S. in psychology at the University of Georgia

Research interests: Felipe’s research focuses on the influence of personalismo, familismo, machismo/marianismo, respeto, and other typical Latine cultural values on Latino Americans living in the USA.

Employment: Felipe is currently a masters’ level clinician interning at the Oconee County Jail. He is also employed as a human resources administrative assistant at the UGA Army ROTC and can occasionally be found working as a delivery driver for Jimmy John’s.

• Pursuing a B.S. in psychology; B.A. in teaching English to speakers of other languages; and minors in educational psychology and Spanish at the University of Georgia
• Completed A.S. in criminal justice at Georgia State University

Abel is a first-generation college student and first-generation American, born to two immigrant parents from Guerrero, Mexico. He is from Acworth, Georgia and is a former captain for Georgia State University’s competition boxing tea. He actively competes for the University of Georgia’s jiu jitsu team.

Research interests: Abel’s research interests predominantly include the intersection of psychology and the Latino community—mainly looking at mental health and promoting mental well-being and awareness amongst the community, especially in family settings. Abel also researches ADHD and autism in the Latino community and how it negatively impacts academics in Latino communities as well as overall quality of life.

• Pursuing an Ed.S. in school psychology at the University of Georgia
• Completed B.A. in psychology at Columbia University

Research interests: Dejah-Maia’s research interests include social-emotional development, teacher-child and parent-child relationships, the impact of early development on these relationships, early STEM learning for Hispanic/Latino students, and the educational and social disparities faced by bilingual children from underrepresented communities. She is also interested in how children’s attachment styles—shaped by both genetic and environmental factors—affect their relationships with teachers, and how teachers’ willingness to nurture these connections influences children’s development.

Employment: Dejah-Maia is a first-year school psychology Ed.S. student and a graduate assistant at the Center for Multilingual-Learner Education, Research, and Innovative Teaching (MERIT), where she supports research and professional learning initiatives focused on improving education for multilingual learners through culturally responsive, conversation-based instruction.

• Pursuing a master’s degree in social work at the University of Georgia
• Completed a B.Sc.(Ed.) in science education at Lagos State University, Nigeria

Research interests: Francisca’s research is focused on the mental health of underserved individuals of ethnic minority groups.

• Pursuing M.Ed. in professional counseling (clinical mental health) at the University of Georgia
• Completed B.S. in psychology and minors in Portuguese and film studies at the University of Georgia

Research interests: Celaret is interested in working with marginalized communities, specifically immigrant and Latine populations, to collaboratively find ways to foster connections and healing.

Employment: Celaret is a master’s level clinician interning at Project ADAM, where she works with individuals recovering from substance use. She is also working part-time at a psychiatric outpatient clinic in a receptionist role.

• Pursuing M.Ed. in professional counseling (clinical mental health) at the University of Georgia
• Completed B.S. in psychology and minor in sociology at the University of Georgia

Research interests: Stephanie is interested in working with marginalized communities, specifically LGBT+ and Latine populations, to promote healing and well-being.

Employment: Stephanie is a master’s level clinician interning at the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation at the University of Georgia and Specialty Care Clinic in Athens, Georgia.