Associate Professor
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_2042bb7351284f0f982e4787d37415e6f000.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/11062b_2042bb7351284f0f982e4787d37415e6f000.jpg)
Health and Wellness Lab
Current Research Projects
![All Hands In](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_91523c1f1c1e4f8ca3a40e66dd82ee65~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_79,h_53,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/11062b_91523c1f1c1e4f8ca3a40e66dd82ee65~mv2.jpeg)
Youth Participatory Action Research
I have worked with youth in the Monterey area on a few different research projects, but most recently I worked with the Gonzales Youth Council on a youth participatory action project focused on emotional and academic wellness during COVID-19. We gathered data from more than 300 middle school and high school students, and the results were used by the youth council to advocate for mental health resources in Gonzales. We are currently analyzing a follow-up survey and continuing our collaboration.
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Published work related to this project:
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![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_fed5130990e14a1e847a23e966d81bf9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_77,h_76,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_fed5130990e14a1e847a23e966d81bf9~mv2.jpg)
Screen SPACE Wellness:
Questionnaire Development
Technology and social media are prominent in young people's lives. This project is a collaboration with
Dr. Nita Tewari and Dr. Oscar Rojas Perez to develop and test a questionnaire about screen and technology wellness among adolescents and young adults. This questionnaire is intended to have clinical and utility. SPACE is an acronym for Social, Physical, Academic, Cognitive, and Emotional Wellness.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_db2f748ce9d346f59fed45a1893244f1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_77,h_60,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_db2f748ce9d346f59fed45a1893244f1~mv2.jpg)
Interracial Dialogues
To help support racial justice efforts on campus, I am a developer and co-facilitator of the IDEA (Interracial Dialogue, Equity, and Accountability) Program at CSUMB. My colleagues and I are working to evaluate and reflect on our work. We also are identifying next steps for moving the program forward. Research opportunities related to this project would be program evaluation.
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Here is our 2022 publication:
Supporting Institutional Change through Interracial Dialogue Among Campus Leaders
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Meet the Team
![Nevan Bell](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_70c9c4296fa547bdbe8a928ed9e47df0~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_136,h_181,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_70c9c4296fa547bdbe8a928ed9e47df0~mv2.jpeg)
Major: Psychology Minors: Music, Humanities & Comm. UROC Scholar Interests: The impact of music on cognition for neurodiverse individuals Graduation: Fall 2022 Next Steps: Pursue PhD in Clinical Psy & Music
![Rosa E. Acevedo](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_a768cad69c3342518a196b21719bf7c2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_126,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_a768cad69c3342518a196b21719bf7c2~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology UROC & McNair Scholar Interests: Mental health & Latinx communities, youth, art therapy Graduation: Fall 2023 Next Steps: Pursue PhD. in Clinical or Counseling Psy
![Kimberly Smith](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_01ee0960c50e444289f512f2f750c869~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_01ee0960c50e444289f512f2f750c869~mv2.jpeg)
Major: Collaborative Health and Human Services (public health emphasis) UROC & McNair Scholar Interests: Health disparities, diseases of poverty Graduation: Fall 2023 Next Steps: Pursue PhD in Public Health
Alumni
![Claudia E. Rocha](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_37343183da844d829b9260b2e409170a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_147,h_157,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_37343183da844d829b9260b2e409170a~mv2.jpeg)
Major: Psychology Interests: Youth, Educational Systems, Emotional Wellbeing Graduation: Spring 2021 Next Step: MA in School Psychology
![Selina Espinoza](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_0b6b3e749d8340acae0de6cba1ac20cc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_168,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_0b6b3e749d8340acae0de6cba1ac20cc~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Minor: Statistics UROC & McNair Scholar, Sally Casanova Scholar Interests: Cannabis and mental health Graduation: Spring 2021 Studying for Ph.D in Health Psychology UC Merced
![Melissa-Ann Lagunas](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_d3e55be06a6e4c07aa2987f13c3be715~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_147,h_174,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_d3e55be06a6e4c07aa2987f13c3be715~mv2.jpeg)
Major: Psychology Minor: Statistics UROC Researcher & Koret Scholar. Interests: First-generation Status & Ethnoracial Health Disparities, & Wellness Graduation: Spring 2021 Next Steps: PhD in Clinical Psych
![Courtney Crouse](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_813b7c62c55f43ac80468d19d569cb4a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_73,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_813b7c62c55f43ac80468d19d569cb4a~mv2.png)
Major: Psychology UROC Researcher & Koret Scholar. Interests: Gender Differences, Community Health & Wellbeing, & Digital Wellness Graduation: Spring 2021 Next Steps: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
![Ava A. Acosta](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_af5ff73a4075443cb1cde69e5ff89d57~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_181,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_af5ff73a4075443cb1cde69e5ff89d57~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Interests: Clinical child psychology, social media, mindfulness Graduation: Spring 2022 Next Step: Pursue PhD
![Yelena Gonzalez](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_ab6c8c698bf446d2898b34413e712e54~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_147,h_137,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_ab6c8c698bf446d2898b34413e712e54~mv2.jpeg)
Major: Psychology Interests: immigrant and refugee mental health, PTSD, & eating disorders Graduation: Spring 2020 Next Steps: Pursue PhD
![Frederick Siglar](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_1b79d452cf174ca4a73da24e7c0a0487~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_145,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_1b79d452cf174ca4a73da24e7c0a0487~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Minor: Human Dev UROC Researcher Interests: Multicultural psy, child psychopathology, & ecotherapy Graduation: Spring 2020 Next Steps: PhD student in Clinical Child Psychology
![Abigail Correa](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_378f3c0472364bf2a7dec0f678358af0~mv2_d_1468_1402_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_140,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_378f3c0472364bf2a7dec0f678358af0~mv2_d_1468_1402_s_2.jpg)
Major: Psychology UROC Researcher Interests: Neuroscience, suicidal thoughts and behavior Graduation: Spring 2020 Next Steps: Pursue PhD
![Amanda N. Hansen](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_eca1cee91e5644d9abfc2686f41638db~mv2_d_2078_2184_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_154,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_eca1cee91e5644d9abfc2686f41638db~mv2_d_2078_2184_s_2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Minor: Statistics Interests: Child trauma, assessment, MMPI Graduation: Spring 2020 Next Steps: Kent State for PhD in Clinical Psychology
![Jorge Cabrera](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_4def55289b1e46a2a0c49fc2e2c58013~mv2_d_3456_5184_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_221,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_4def55289b1e46a2a0c49fc2e2c58013~mv2_d_3456_5184_s_4_2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Minor: Pre-Law Sally Casanova Scholar Interests: Immigrant health and policy Graduated: Spring 2019 Next Steps: Pursue JD/PhD
![Tatiana Magaña](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_f1b06caa477948be8592a4110c600c27~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_135,h_240,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_f1b06caa477948be8592a4110c600c27~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Interests: Clinical child psychology, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and CBT strategies Graduated: Spring 2019 Next Steps: Working on Psy.D. in Clinical Child Psychology
![Maddie Oviedo](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_81c3a6f2559640b18926c0729db48ebd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_130,h_230,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_81c3a6f2559640b18926c0729db48ebd~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Interests: Child and adolescent psychology; multicultural psychology Graduated: Spring 2019 Next Steps: Pursue PhD in Clinical Child Psychology; child life specialist
![Dulce N. Ramirez](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_8e8489c0279a440ebb7465042019d98b~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_164,h_190,al_c,q_85,blur_3,enc_auto/4b3225_8e8489c0279a440ebb7465042019d98b~mv2.png)
Major: Psychology Interests: Clinical child and multicultural psychology Graduated: Spring 2019 Next Steps: Obtain PhD then return to Monterey County and work with Hispanic/Latino community.
![Lillian Salinas](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_0b8f1728def34af6bb15e93fd2d823a4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_194,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_0b8f1728def34af6bb15e93fd2d823a4~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Interests: Children and adolescents, child trauma, heathcare, multicultural psychology Graduated: Spring 2019 Next Steps: Pursue a PhD. in Clinical Child Psychology
![Dewey Tran](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_07a1b7d0e1d94af8bfc30e8cd7c3f63f~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_07a1b7d0e1d94af8bfc30e8cd7c3f63f~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Minor: Cognitive Science Interests: Clinical psych, cognitive neuroscience, stress & health Graduated: 2017 (UC Merced) Next Steps: Graduate School in Experimental Psych
![Karen V. Baker](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_9d2fcca95bed43989c4ba873832ecf26~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_183,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_9d2fcca95bed43989c4ba873832ecf26~mv2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Interests: Child and health psychology, research, ABA therapy, art therapy Graduated: May 2018 Next Steps: Interested in Counseling with a emphasis in Art Therapy
![Constant Braggs](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_c58f56eac1fc47bcb9134c2f95d05bb1~mv2_d_1603_2093_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_192,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_c58f56eac1fc47bcb9134c2f95d05bb1~mv2_d_1603_2093_s_2.jpg)
Major: Psychology Minor: Human Dev Interests: Child trauma and foster care Graduated: May 2018 Next Steps: Applying to graduate school for Clinical Psychology
![Courtney Allen](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b3225_6c45e83f4f9443f98939b9675fac65fd~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_64,h_85,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/4b3225_6c45e83f4f9443f98939b9675fac65fd~mv2.png)
Major: Psychology Interests: Health psychology, suicide Graduated: May 2018 Next Steps: Graduate student in Clinical Psychology PsyD program