Sofia Adame is a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Psychology and Anthropology, a minor in Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies, and a Global Studies certificate. A Mexican immigrant with international research experience, she led Latinx Student Association and Global Brigades outreach. She is committed to policy and education that reduce femicides and gender-based violence across Latin America.

Amelia Leonard is a senior at Pitt majoring in Psychology with a minor in Economics. She supports CREAR’s research administration and is active in Women in Economics, Behavioral Economics Club, and Psi Chi. Her goals center on meaningful work that supports underserved communities.

Ashley Lopez holds a B.A. in Psychology (Honors) and an M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from NYU, with minors in Social Work and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Former Project Coordinator at NYU’s West Interpersonal Perception Lab, she studies how social support shapes academic and workplace outcomes for minoritized communities and plans to pursue a Ph.D.

Sydni’s research centers on how adverse childhood experiences confer risk for interpersonal difficulties, psychopathology, and impaired brain development. She earned a B.A. in Psychology (minor Neuroscience) and a B.S. in Health Sciences from Cleveland State University and aims to become a Clinical or Developmental Psychologist serving underrepresented populations.

Patrick studies how polyvictimization impacts adolescent mental health and development, with emphasis on protective factors such as education and social support, and on gender differences in experiences and outcomes. He is a first-year doctoral student in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at Pitt.

Geraldine is a first-year Developmental Psychology Ph.D. student at Pitt and K. Leroy Irvis Fellow. Harvard A.B. in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience & Evolutionary Psychology) with a minor in Social Anthropology. She studies how sociocultural contexts shape youth and family experiences with psychopathology and treatment-seeking and aims to inform accessible, culturally relevant interventions.

Courtney is a second-year Developmental Psychology Ph.D. student at the University of Pittsburgh and a K. Leroy Irvis Fellow mentored by Dr. Sophie Choukas-Bradley. She earned her B.A. with highest honors in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Latinx Studies, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021. Before graduate school, she coordinated research in UNC’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. Courtney’s work examines sociocultural influences on adolescents’ romantic and sexual experiences and their implications for mental health, particularly among youth of color and queer youth. She aims to inform dating and sexual violence prevention through interdisciplinary, youth-centered approaches.

Angela is a Hot Metal Bridge Post-Baccalaureate Fellow at Pitt. She holds a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology from UTRGV. She is interested in health and neuropsychology research and clinical work, and enjoys piano, reading, and cat videos.

Yadira (HMB Fellow 2024–2025) earned an M.S.W. in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse and a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition & Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. Former Lab Manager of the CASA Lab (UM). She studies how adverse childhood experiences shape brain/behavioral development and how policy, community, and family intersect in youth well-being.

Dollar is a master’s student in Marriage & Family Therapy at the University of Oregon. She is curious about how identities intersect with daily life, with prior work on belonging in classroom/social settings and on pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to depression and epilepsy.

Erin Lancaster is a 2025–2026 Hot Metal Bridge (HMB) Post-Baccalaureate Fellow in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned a Bachelor of Philosophy in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in May 2025. Erin is interested in exploring how culture, identity, and social context shape youth development and access to mental health resources. She joined the CREAR Lab to gain experience with international and community-engaged research and to learn more about how cultural values and family relationships impact youth mental health. Outside of academics, she enjoys sewing, crocheting, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.

Mia

Senior in Psychology with a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. Plans to become a physician assistant; interested in research-to-practice translation for quality patient care.

Third-year BSN student pursuing honors and a minor in Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies; multilingual (English, Spanish, Mandarin, French). Aspires to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner supporting underserved communities.

Senior in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Interested in trauma, mental health, and social behavior; plans an M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

Junior in Psychology and Political Science with a minor in German. Excited to learn about adolescent psychology under stress; hopes to become a therapist.

Junior nursing student also pursuing Psychology; experience in TBI rehab. Interested in supporting underserved adolescents at the intersection of care and mental health.

Sophomore (Class of 2027) majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Plans to conduct research and work as a clinical psychologist.

Junior majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Neuroscience; born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. Volunteers as an interpreter and plans to attend medical school.

Kmaura (she/they) is a junior pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience and certificates in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine and Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies. Aims for a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology to support higher-acuity mental health needs.

Psychology student in Uruapan, Michoacán. Interested in neuropsychology and educational psychology; enjoys drawing and baking.

Fourth-semester psychology student (UMSNH, Uruapan). Curious about cultures and research; enjoys volleyball, math, writing, reading, and art. Excited about this opportunity.

From Uruapan, Michoacán. Overcame personal challenges; now thriving as a Psychology student (with a technical background in puericulture) at the Uruapan campus.

Born in Uruapan (1994). Fifth-semester Psychology student (UMSNH). Interested in active collaboration and empirical learning; aims to continue academic development in research.

From Uruapan (b. 2004). Fourth-semester Psychology student (UMSNH). Hopes to apply prior knowledge effectively and grow through hands-on research experience.

Psychology student (UMSNH, Uruapan). Wants to put theory into practice, understand risk/protective factors and daily contexts, and provide tools to those who need them.

Mexican student from Uruapan, Michoacán. Fourth-semester student in the Faculty of Psychology (UMSNH, Unidad Profesional de Uruapan).

Post-bacc researcher from India. B.A. in Psychology (University of Delhi, 2023). Interested in child development and family health; aims to pursue a master’s in developmental psychology and study supportive parenting in Indian contexts.

Examines factors that help adolescents—especially from minoritized backgrounds—thrive. Uses resilience and strengths-based approaches (daily diary, interviews, secondary data) to study contextual risks (discrimination, community violence, family stress) and incorporates biological markers (e.g., cortisol) and physiology (e.g., sleep). Also studies Black and Latina women’s experiences with infertility.

Psychologist focused on research and teaching, particularly statistical analysis and instrument design. Advocates inclusive, gender-informed education and explores how AI can enrich teaching while preserving critical thinking.

Studies how social inequality (e.g., racism, poverty) shapes brain activity and immune function with consequences for mental and physical health, and how physiological states (e.g., inflammation) feed back to affect social perception—informing interventions that promote health equity.

Historian and social anthropologist (UNAH, Honduras), researcher and social activist, part of the Feminist Research Unit of the Center for Women’s Rights (CDM).

Studies the impact of traumatic and adverse experiences on children’s and adolescents’ functioning and develops trauma-informed school programs and multi-tiered systems of support.