Schedule of Events

Traditional Machismo values, emphasizing manliness and strength (Perilla, 1999), are central to Latino culture (e.g, Torres et al., 2022). While these values can showcase positivity (e.g., respect) or negativity (e.g., male superiority; Avila, 2014), limited research has examined the differences between generations. Prior studies suggest a shift in the relevance of Machismo amongst first-generation immigrants(e.g., Ceballos, 2013). This study explores generational differences in positive and negative Machismo values among Latino males. It is hypothesized that positive values will be more strongly emphasized and that first-generation males will more strongly endorse positive values. A sample of 37 Latino males (ages 18–39) completed an anonymous survey assessing Machismo values. Results indicated a significant difference in endorsement, with participants identifying more strongly with positive values (M=6.14, SD=0.71) than negative values (M=2.81, SD=1.21), t(46)=16.17, p<0.001, d=2.36. First-generation males reported slightly higher scores on positive Machismo values M=6.37, SD=0.51) than second-generation males (M=5.97, SD=0.79), t(45)=1.99, p=0.05, d = 0.59, moderate effect, the difference was marginal. No significant differences were found for negative Machismo values. These highlight the importance of positive Machismo values and suggest a decline in negative values. While first-generation males showed a slight tendency to endorse positive values more strongly, the difference was insignificant. This provides insight for understanding identity development and promoting positive cultural values within the Latino community.

I theorize that there is a common denominator linking one’s opposition to the legalization of marijuana and abortion: a desire to preserve the social hierarchy dictated by race and gender. Abortion laws are traditionally used to uphold women’s “correct” place in society as mothers and caretakers. Abortion restrictions limit their access to family planning, as well affects career options and advancements. Drug laws have been used to incarcerate large numbers of people of color under the guise of “law and order,” while white drug use is largely seen as a health epidemic.  I measure adherence to a social hierarchy with people’s preference for traditional gender roles and expressions of racial resentment (denial of systematic inequality for people of color). I then test to see if holding beliefs that preserve the social hierarchy predicts an opposition to abortion and marijuana legalization laws.

Most research on young adults’ sexual health education has focused primarily on heteronormative behaviors. In contrast, there is limited information tailored to the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals (Kosciw et al., 2022), which may lead to feelings of exclusion in traditional sexual education programs.  As a result, they may turn to alternative sources for sexual information, including peers and online platforms (Mitchell et al., 2013). However, these sources are often less reliable and medically accurate, thus reducing self-efficacy in making informed sexual health decisions. To address this gap, the current study examines differences in sexual health between heterosexual and LGBTQ+ adults, specifically in sources of information, knowledge, and self-efficacy when discussing sexual health topics. It is hypothesized that there will be differences between the sexual orientations. A sample of 144 young adults (ages 18-26; N=97 heterosexual, N=47 LGBTQ+) completed an anonymous online survey assessing these variables. Preliminary findings revealed no significant differences in sources of information, with 47% of LGBTQ+ individuals and 44% of heterosexual individuals reporting they learned about sex and gender roles from multiple sources (e.g., peers, family, internet, school), χ2(4, N=119) = 3.42, p > 0.05. However, significant differences were found in comfort levels: LGBTQ+ individuals (M=4.25, SD=0.93) reported greater comfort discussing sex and gender roles compared to heterosexual individuals (M=3.65, SD=1.10), t(122) = 2.95, p = 0.004, d = 0.57, indicating a medium effect.

The purpose of this project is to examine the potential impact of the Dobbs case, which overturned Roe v. Wade, on the political mobilization and engagement of young women and minorities. The qualitative findings indicate that reproductive rights are major factors shaping the political preferences of different demographic groups, particularly by age, race/ethnicity, and sex/gender. Examining the impact of the Dobbs decision on young women and minorities is significant for two primary reasons. First, significant portions of the electorate (i.e. young women and minorities) must grapple with the political, legal, and social consequences of this decision on their lives, beyond health care. This will be particularly the case for young women voters and minorities, who will now live in a world in which there is no longer a constitutional right to abortion. The case may lead to a major realignment in the political behavior and engagement of a generation of young adults and beyond, as we witnessed after major Supreme Court decisions related to civil rights. Second, this decision upends decades of precedent that reaffirmed the constitutional right to privacy. However, this decision may open the door to other laws related to privacy, such as same-sex marriage and LGBTQ-plus protections. Advocates and opponents of these concerns may galvanize around this decision in their civic engagement and political mobilization efforts.

There is bountiful psychological research on how parental behavior can impact a child’s well-being. One such behavior is parental alcohol use. Approximately 11% of children in the United States live with at least one parent with an alcohol use disorder (Kelley et al., 2010). An additional behavior that impacts a child’s development is parenting style. Prior research has categorized parenting into three parenting styles, each thought to be associated with varying psychological outcomes (Baumrind, 1971). Currently, there is little understanding of how parental alcohol use and parenting style relate, and how they might correlate with a child’s psychological outcomes later in life. Using a cross-sectional design, this study aims to assess the participants’ levels of depression and anxiety and explore if they are higher amongst participants who reported significant parental alcohol use and/or were raised with an authoritarian parenting style. It is hypothesized that participants who were raised by a parent with perceived significant alcohol use will endorse greater depression and anxiety symptoms than those who weren’t. Additionally, participants who indicate being raised by at least one authoritarian parent will endorse greater depression and anxiety symptoms than those who indicate being raised by an authoritative or permissive parent. Lastly, participants raised by a parent with perceived significant alcohol use who also used an authoritarian parenting style will report the highest depression and anxiety symptoms of all groups

Brief Introduction:  
My internship with GLO Preemies has given me firsthand experience in nonprofit grant research and funding development. This organization is dedicated to supporting Black NICU families, and my work has reinforced the importance of securing financial resources to sustain and expand these critical programs. Through this experience, I have gained a deeper understanding of how funding impacts health equity initiatives.  
 Purpose Statement:  
In my role, I researched, submitted, and followed up on grant proposals to support NICU family programs. I also identified potential funding partners-such as Dignity Health, First 5 Sacramento, UC Davis Health, Sutter Health, and others-to support initiatives like the GLO Preemies Baby Shower. This event aims to provide essential resources and emotional support to families navigating the challenges of the NICU experience.
 Results and Conclusion: 
During my internship, I identified potential grant opportunities and connected with foundations that align with GLO Preemies’ mission. I also learned how to craft compelling grant proposals and follow up with funders to maximize funding potential. This experience has deepened my appreciation for the behind-the-scenes efforts that sustain nonprofit organizations and has strengthened my research, writing, and advocacy skills. Overall, this internship has reinforced my passion for supporting underserved communities and has equipped me with valuable skills for my future career in psychology and public health.

Acceptance- and mindfulness-based behavioral treatments (ABBTs) have demonstrated effectiveness for several mental health disorders. While these approaches integrate aspects from non-Western traditions, research is being conducted about their effectiveness with individuals from nondominant cultural and marginalized backgrounds. This study updates the meta-analysis by Fuchs et al. (2013), including research from 2011-2024.
Replicating the methodology of the original meta-analysis, studies implementing ABBTs with underserved populations were reviewed. The analysis included 36 studies with 253 effect sizes. This showed that ABBTs demonstrate medium positive effects for clients from nondominant cultural and marginalized backgrounds (g = 0.474, 95% CI [0.284, 0.665], p < .0001). High heterogeneity (I² = 86.59%) led to moderator analyses. While both Western and non-Western populations benefited from these treatments with no significant difference between groups, intervention type emerged as a significant moderator. CBT combined with mindfulness-based CBT showed the largest effects (g = 1.46), significantly outperforming ACT-based interventions (g = 0.29). There was no significant difference in treatment settings. Publication bias analyses resulted in mixed results. Trim and fill and Rosenthal's Fail-safe N suggested no publication bias; however, Egger's regression and Orwin's Fail-safe N indicated potential publication bias
This meta-analysis supported the effectiveness of ABBTs for clients from underserved populations. These findings advance our understanding and suggest that culturally responsive implementation of ABBTs represents a valuable approach to addressing mental health difficulties in underserved communities.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a cognitive-behavioral therapy widely used to treat psychological problems. Meta-analytic studies have focused on treatment outcomes; however, few systematic reviews have analyzed how ACT is adapted to suit different cultures. Several frameworks were developed to evaluate cultural adaptations of psychological treatments. The ecological validity framework assesses cultural adaptations of psychotherapies. The model consists of dimensions evaluating how an intervention is adapted to be culturally sensitive. This framework explores how a psychotherapy treatment is adapted for other cultures by using and/or changing language, client-therapist match (persons), metaphors, content, concepts, goals, methods, and context.
As cultural differences play a vital role in the efficacy of psychotherapy interventions, the current study will investigate the cultural adaptations of ACT for non-Western populations using a systematic review. My research will highlight the different components of the EVF that ACT has been adapted to. This research will systematically extract studies that have applied an ACT protocol to a non-western population and have explicitly mentioned a cultural adaptation. This will also showcase where ACT’s cultural adaptations stand and where we might want to work to improve. From an initial look at the studies in my sample, it seems that some interventions mainly adapted the language component. At the same time, others made more comprehensive adaptations not only for the language but also for content, context, metaphors, and methods. Investigating cultural adaptations for psychotherapies is necessary as there is a need to tailor treatments to suit the client seeking help.

Through my Public Health internship at GLO Preemies, I got the opportunity to educate Black NICU families, promote health equity, and connect families with supportive resources. GLO Preemies is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing comprehensive care for Black families in the NICU by promoting health and racial equity through advocacy, education, and family support for a continuous 18 years. During my internship, I focused heavily on improving the mental health of NICU parents by providing informative content about coping strategies, emotional support resources, and the importance of self-care during the NICU journey. My internship tasks included creating social media content and video content for GLO Preemies TV that catered to NICU families, providing them with valuable information on infant care and useful resources. This experience improved my skills in Health Communication, as I have learned to make health information and safety measures more accessible for Black NICU Families.

In 2023, over half of the world’s population used the internet. In July 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council declared access to a free and open internet a human right, condemning intentional disruptions or restrictions imposed by governments or ISPs. Countries responded to this non-binding resolution with a range of ISP regulations. Net neutrality remains one central position and addresses concerns about the new age of information infrastructure, including digital censorship, technology monopolies, and a growing digital divide. With the role of public opinion being pushed below the accumulation of concentrated wealth, an open internet is desperately necessary. Ultimately, if the free flow of information is not prioritized, informed citizenry and democratic ideals will become obsolete.
This study examines how net neutrality impacts socioeconomic well-being and open political environments. To achieve this goal, this study will consist of three parts:


What is net neutrality and how has it been regulated?


How has net neutrality impacted socioeconomic well-being and open political environments?


How can net neutrality be regulated to ensure good governance?


Using mixed methods, this study will analyze quantitative data about socioeconomic well-being, including GDP and public trust. It will also compare ISP regulation to levels of a free flow of information. Balancing qualitative elements, the project will conduct in-depth interviews and site visits with a small sample representative of the connection of businesses, the political sphere, and internet policy. Case law and policy analysis will be additional data.

This study investigated whether a sticker-based token economy  increased a child's verbal communication of thoughts and feelings. Grounded in the principles of operant conditioning (Skinner, 1963), the study aimed to determine whether earning stickers toward a larger prize (stuffed animals) served as an effective reinforcer. Previous research supports the effectiveness of positive reinforcement for increasing desired behaviors in children (e.g., Gunaretnam, 2021; Walker & Buckley, 1968), though its success depends on the desirability of the consequence (Ismail, 2023). This study utilized  a single-case AB research design. The participant's verbal communication and verbal outbursts were observed during 9 one-hour sessions: four baseline sessions and five intervention sessions. Results indicated that during the intervention phase, the participant averaged 1.8 verbal outbursts, compared to 3.5 outbursts during baseline. Additionally, effective verbal expression of thoughts and feelings increased from an average of 5.25 during baseline to 6.8 during the intervention. 60% of the intervention days were better than the baseline days.  These results suggest that the sticker token economy was a successful intervention for increasing verbal communication and decreasing verbal outbursts. However, limitations remain and warrant further exploration.

In recent years, additional frameworks that embrace alternative approaches to punishment for the U.S. criminal justice system have come to light. Across the country, the implementation of restorative justice has lowered recidivism rates, decreased social stigma, and made communities safer across the country. This approach focuses on healing the harm caused by crime through dialogue and reconciliation, rather than punitive measures. It includes the criminal offender, their victim, and others who may have been affected by the crime, including family and other members of the community. Alongside this shift, the theatre arts have emerged as an innovative tool in restorative justice, offering incarcerated individuals a unique means of self-expression and personal growth. This project explores how restorative justice and theatre are being implemented together within the U.S. criminal law system, investigating their combined impact on reducing recidivism, improving post-incarceration employment opportunities, and advancing educational outcomes for individuals leaving incarceration.
 
This project aims to assess whether integrating theatre into restorative justice practices can produce meaningful, measurable changes in the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals. By analyzing data on recidivism, employment, and educational outcomes, as well as conducting qualitative case studies, this research provides insight into the broader implications of this approach. The findings have the potential to inform policy discussions and offer new strategies for reducing the social and economic costs of incarceration, making a compelling case for the use of creative arts as part of a holistic restorative justice framework.

Over half of the college students have experienced some level of suicidal ideation in their lifetime, and out of those, approximately 7.7% have attempted suicide (Dueweke & Schwartz-Mette, 2017). International students have been shown to have higher suicide attempt rates despite lower reported diagnoses of depression and anxiety (Yeung et al.  2022). International graduate and undergraduate students face various obstacles when adjusting to a new culture and educational system.  Stressors such as cultural, academic, and language adjustments, as well as visa and legal concerns, can contribute to heightened risks of depression, distress, and suicidal ideation (Chen et al., 2020; Forbes-Mewett & Sawyer, 2019). For example, Pérez-Rojas et al. (2024) found that discrimination, academic stress, and cultural disconnection can contribute to feelings of perceived burdensomeness, which has been associated with suicide ideation. Additionally, limited support systems and difficulties in forming social connections further complicate the experience of international undergraduate and graduate students (Poyrazli & Lopez, 2020). The current paper is a systematic review that explores the key factors contributing to suicidal behavior among international students in higher education. The review will focus on critical factors including academic distress, social difficulties, and cultural adaptation. Preliminary findings suggest that relationship problems and academic stress are the most prevalent predictors of suicidality in this group. The study will provide recommendations for assessing and managing suicide ideation within the international student community.

The COPE Health Scholars program is designed to give students the opportunity to dig deeper into their career goal by offering clinical and administrative health care experience. The goal while in this internship is to identify if this field of work is the best choice for you and to complete volunteer hours and experience for the future. My personal goal in this program is to engage with the position and to learn what it is like to be on the caregiving side rather than the patient. There are several tiers that you will move up to after earning certain amount of hours that will allow you to explore the different careers within the hospital such as Telemetry, Intensive care unit, Surgical units and much more. Overall, you will complete 280+ hours over a time track that fits best for you whether that is 3-, 9-. or 15-months.

It is important to conduct research on perceptions of substance-induced psychosis and its intersection with minority racial status within a legal context to highlight stigma as it contributes to disparities in sentencing and perceptions of worthiness regarding rehabilitation efforts. This research also allows theories of perceived culpability for deviant behavior to be tested systematically. The current study utilizes a 2x2, between-subjects design, and specifically examines how racial identity of an offender (Black/White) and the presence of a substance-induced psychosis episode at the time of the offense (Yes/No) impact public attitudes about culpability and support for rehabilitation. The proposed research would recruit a sample of adults residing in the United States via an online platform, Prolific. The current study hypothesizes the American public will endorse less rehabilitation support for Black offenders with substance-induced psychosis and assign more culpability to this group compared to White offenders. Results will be analyzed through two-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Due to existing evidence in past research, this dissertation also attempts to answer whether stigmatizing attitudes toward substance use may be more significant predictors of culpability judgements and openness to rehabilitative efforts for offenders through post-hoc analyses.
 

As an intern at the Alliance for Black NICU Families™, I have had the opportunity to support an organization dedicated to addressing racial and health disparities in neonatal care. This experience has provided invaluable insight into the challenges Black families face in the NICU and the importance of advocacy and community support. 
The primary goal of the organization is to promote equitable healthcare policies, provide financial and material resources to NICU families, and support Black-led initiatives focused on maternal and infant health. A key project I contributed to was the Wearable Breast Pump Program, which has distributed over 500 breast pumps to Black mothers, ensuring better access to human milk feeding for their infants. Additionally, I assisted in research in NICU facilities at different facilities, as well as potential sponsorship partnerships addressing critical issues such as formula accessibility and access to mental health resources for growing mothers. 
Through this internship, I have gained hands-on experience in nonprofit operations, advocacy, and health equity initiatives. The work being done at the Alliance for Black NICU Families™ is making a tangible difference in the lives of many, and this experience has reinforced my passion for community-centered healthcare solutions.

            The purpose of this internship is to provide resources, education, and support to African American families with babies in the NICU. Throughout my internship at GLO preemies I’ve learned that while resources specifically catered to African American families aren’t rare, they can be hard to find and access. My job was to compile a large list of organizations that offer resources in the form of financial help, nutritional needs, and educational sources into one place on the GLO preemies website. With these resources all gathered into one place, families that are going through the difficult journey of having a child in the NICU can easily obtain the things that they need to succeed. Additionally, because the overwhelming majority of these resources cater to African American families, they can feel more supported in an area where they are systemically often overlooked. I feel that my work in this internship allowed to me to give back to my own community while also learning more intimately about the struggles that we face in healthcare.

The Westminster Free Clinic is a non-profit organization that acts as a healthcare safety net for Ventura County’s underinsured and uninsured. This free clinic serves primarily Spanish-speaking population in Santa Paula, Oxnard, and Thousand Oaks. It is 97% volunteer driven with volunteer medical professionals, college students, and high school students working together to tend to the needs and serve the community. The clinic is important because it provides services that minority groups seek but are not able to afford on their own or do not have direct access. The Westminster Free Clinic’s mission is to provide not only healthcare services but also health supporting services so minority groups can meet their immediate needs. This is done through providing medical services, run a food pantry, and elaborate the importance of healthy lifestyles through diet and exercise. It also acts as a training site for students to explore careers in healthcare. I have been able to help set up the free clinic, work in the food pantry, and recorded health data from the day. I have also been able to shadow medical scribes on the importance of recording important information on each patient interaction with a medical professional. My experience as an intern and future medical scribe demonstrated the importance of teamwork in order to effectively provide the best services underserved communities do not have access to. I can’t wait to continue being a medical scribe at Westminster Free Clinic until graduate school.

This study explores the impact of  Camp HOPE, an intervention program for children and teens affected by domestic violence. Camp HOPE is based on an evidence-based model developed by Alliance for HOPE International designed to promote healing and resilience in youth through a week-long camping and mentoring experience. Our focus is on the specific Camp HOPE put on by The Ventura County Family Justice Center (FJC), which provides a centralized location for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, and elder abuse to access a wide range of services. Our study’s primary research questions are: 1) “How does Camp HOPE affect participants' perceptions of healing, resilience, and empowerment?’, and 2) “What is the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scores and participant well-being after camp?”. Through pre- and post-camp surveys of the HOPE Scale and ACE questionnaire administered to camp participants, we aim to measure changes in their perceptions of healing, resilience, and overall well-being. Pre-camp and post-camp assessments are conducted using a matched design approach. For data analysis, repeated t-tests were used to assess changes over time, along with crosstab analyses to explore relationships between ACE scores and post-camp outcomes. Preliminary findings suggest support for our hypotheses. Our study aims to evaluate participant experiences, offer insights into Camp HOPE’s effectiveness, and identify areas for program improvement. Our overarching goal is to provide valuable insights regarding the impact of FJC interventions on domestic violence survivors and explore effective ways to mitigate adverse childhood experiences.

My virtual internship with GLO Preemies provided me with firsthand experience in public health outreach, specifically focused on supporting Black mothers in the NICU and post-NICU settings. This internship allowed me to engage in culturally conscious health education and community-based support efforts, helping to bridge racial and health equity gaps for families of color. My responsibilities included creating informative brochures for new mothers, identifying hospitals for partnership outreach, and planning educational workshops to support new moms better. This work aimed to improve health literacy and support systems among historically marginalized communities while gaining real-world experience in the public health field. Although the internship was primarily marketing-focused, the experience deepened my understanding of how strategic outreach and representation can make a tangible difference in maternal and neonatal care. I gained valuable collaboration and outreach coordination skills and developed greater empathy and awareness for the role of culture in health outcomes.

The biosocial model of borderline personality disorder (BPD) was developed by Linehan (1993) as a method of conceptualizing the experience of individuals diagnosed with BPD while also providing a guide for treatment planning. The biosocial model is a transactional model balancing two key components including a biological vulnerability to intense emotions and exposure to an emotionally invalidating environment. Empirical evidence has largely provided support for the biological element of the treatment (Kuo, 2009) as well as elements of the invalidating environment.  One, understudied, area of analysis is the role of rejection sensitivity in the biosocial model. Rejection sensitivity can be defined as the percipiency to expect and respond to cues of interpersonal rejection (Preti et al., 2020).  Individuals who experience higher levels of rejection sensitivity tend to anticipate and experience increased levels of interpersonal rejection (Chaudoir et al., 2017). In the biosocial model, rejection sensitivity can be conceptualized as a consequence of the two core elements of the biosocial model.  The goal of the present study was to examine the association between the two elements of the biosocial model along with rejection sensitivity as they relate to borderline symptoms.  It was predicted that the effect of the invalidating environment on borderline symptoms would be increased when participants scored higher on rejection sensitivity. The results will be discussed in the context of the need for further replication and extension in clinical populations and across diverse populations. 

In August of 2022, the US Supreme Court issued one of its most important rulings in recent history. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was a landmark decision addressing whether the Constitution protects the right to an abortion. In Dobbs, the Supreme Court reviewed the constitutionality of Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act—a law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for medical emergencies and fetal abnormalities. In a divided opinion, the Court upheld the Mississippi law and overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)—concluding that the Constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. As a result, the Court’s decision returned the issue of abortion regulation to the elected branches and the states. 
The purpose of this project is to provide an extensive examination of abortion laws across the 50 states of the United States also including Washington D.C., meticulously categorized by the degree of restrictiveness or protection provided to abortion access. This approach reflects the increasingly polarized landscape of reproductive rights in the U.S., where state-level policies vary dramatically, from the most restrictive environments to those that are most protective of abortion rights. This project will show that there are vast variations based from state to state regarding the essence in which abortion is legal along with other variables that go along with abortion procedures. The issue delves into not just a woman’s right but also the repercussions of states that are too extreme with the ban and states that are too lenient with the practice of abortion.