Social Science Researcher・Integrative Health Coach・
Social Justice Advocate・Multidisciplinary Artist
Research
Clinical Psychology @ Rutgers
As of August 2023, I serve as Research & Communications Coordinator @ the Center for Youth Social Emotional Wellness (CYSEW), part of the
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology (GSAPP).
In this role, I coordinate CYSEW’s NIH-funded clinical psychology research study (Development of a Novel Virtual Reality (VR) Treatment for Emerging Adults with ADHD) & support services for college students with ADHD with Dr. Joshua Langberg’s research team. The Center's work is centered on youth mental health equity, which entails expanding "access quality mental health care, particularly for individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, immigration status, and geographical location, among others."
Among other responsibilities, I lead the Center’s research participant recruitment and community engagement initiatives, survey data management and analysis, IRB processes, graduate student training, and organizing of diagnostic evaluation and interventions services for diverse Rutgers students. As well, I manage external communications, social media, website management, and event coordination, including the annual Youth Mental Health Equity summit.
Research Publications
The following are publications & research projects I have written since 2012.
They include my undergraduate Psychology BA Honors Thesis,
graduate Sustainable Tourism Management MSc Graduate Thesis, and
research publications from my time at the state advocacy nonprofit Our Children Oregon.
Joint Picture Book Reading in Monolingual and Bilingual Parent-Child Dyads:
The Role of Parent-Child Interactional Quality
Undergraduate Honors Thesis · May 2012
Undergraduate Thesis for BA Honors in Psychology. This research study examined parent-infant didactic behaviors during a joint picture book reading task and comparing monolingual & bilingual 18- and 24-month-old infants and their parents under naturalistic conditions. The objective was to discern differences between monolingual and bilingual as well as 18- and 24-month-old dyads in measures of interactional behaviors and global PCI quality.
While there existed no significant differences between monolingual and bilingual dyads in either set of measures, at the 18- and 24-month stages and longitudinally, various behavioral and PCI measures correlated significantly with one another. As well, parents of 18-month-old infants fell under high- and low-quality scaffolding clusters, which in turn significantly predicted infant pointing and word frequencies. Longitudinal analyses indicated that PCI quality during joint book reading remains relatively stable over a six-month period of major language development. Implications for book reading and bilingual development are discussed.
Facial Sexual Dimorphism and Judgments of Personality:
A Literature Review
Georgetown Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences · June 2012
Facial sexual dimorphism lends itself to myriad facial traits that result from an individual's unique exposure to the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. The following literature review will discuss psychological research from the late 20th century onwards pertaining to facial sexual dimorphism - facial masculinity and femininity - as it relates to the judgment of personality traits, specifically the Big Five personality traits proposed by Goldberg (1993): openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. Research from the past three decades pertaining to facial judgments of personality has investigated correlations of specific personality traits with facial attractiveness as well as symmetry.
The Roles of Interpretation in British Columbian Aboriginal Ecotourism: Case Studies in First Nations' Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation
Graduate Thesis · July 31, 2017
Graduate Thesis for the European Master in Tourism Management (EMTM), centered on the research question: What roles does interpretation play in Aboriginal-run ecotourism in British Columbia? This thesis outlines the context and purpose of the research; the utilized methodology and research paradigm; the seven Aboriginal ecotourism businesses cases; the primary research findings and their relevance and contributions to extant research findings; critical reflections on interpretation and cultural components in ecotourism; and recommendations for future areas of research.
Oregon’s Child Care Conundrum: Hurdles, Disparities, and Opportunities Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Our Children Oregon · January 6, 2022
Child care in Oregon is as complex as it is underfunded. Our Children Oregon’s complete issue brief, Oregon’s Child Care Conundrum: Hurdles, Disparities, and Opportunities Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, reports how across the state, a diverse array of systemically excluded communities bear disproportionate impacts due to the lack of accessible, affordable, quality child care. Smart local, state, and federal investments can expand child care resources and reduce costs, alleviating the burdens facing children, families, providers, and the greater economy. Read the issue brief to learn more about the state of child care in Oregon.
