DesaKaryeDaniel

My name is Krystal Christopher and I am a third-year Counseling Psychology doctoral student at the University of Houston. My research interests include stress physiology, health disparities/social determinants of health, and psychoneuroimmunology. My clinical interests include working with integrated health facilities, families/caregivers of cancer patients, and neuropsychology. This year I became a member of the Division 45 student committee. I currently serve as a co-chair on the mentorship committee. The program was created to help foster relationships between students and professionals. So far it has been a great experience working and meeting other students who are passionate about diversity and the well-being of minority students navigating the graduate school process. My name is Chun Tao, and I am fifth-year doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University. My research interests focus on the experiences of those who have typically been marginalized in their career and relationship contexts. Specifically, I examine social and cultural factors that affect and promote individuals’ development of career interests and engagement from a multicultural lens. I also explore the unique stressors racial or sexual minority individuals experience within and outside their romantic relationship, such as those in an interracial or intercultural relationship. My clinical interests include culturally sensitive assessment and multicultural counseling in an integrated behavioral health setting. I have had the pleasure to serve on the Mentorship Committee for the second year. We were able to host 26 virtual mentorship sessions last Spring with mentors that bring expertise in various fields of psychology. Serving on the Div 45 Student Committee has provided me opportunities to facilitate meaningful conversations and mentorship relationships between students of diverse background and seasoned psychologists. Moreover, I have felt fortunate to have met and known many colleagues and peers that share similar passion for social justice and continue to inspire me as a psychologist in training. My name is Yue Li and I am a 4th-year doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington. My research interests evolve around underprivileged populations, vocational issues, and the process and outcome of psychotherapy. Clinically, I endorse humanistic, feminist, and other evidence-based practices and provide psychotherapy in both English and Mandarin. During the past 3 years that I have been on the Student Committee of Division 45, I served as the graduate convention assistance in 2017 and the mentorship co-chair in 2018 and 2019. As the mentorship co-chair, my colleagues and I launched the Virtual Mentorship Program for which we organized more than 40 online mentorship sessions on topics such as navigating microaggression, clinical and academic careers, psychologists as leaders and advocates, and self-care. I am grateful to be involved in Division 45 as a graduate student because it has provided me with an energizing and supportive space to develop my leadership and advocacy skills. I am also fortunate to meet and work with many Division 45 students, ECPs, and experienced professionals whose enthusiasm and advocacy empowered me to continue to learn and fight for systemic justice and equity.

Episode 14: Navigating the Licensure Process Yue Li spoke with Dr. Brionez about the licensure process, how to navigate the sometimes complicated process, and what questions you should be asking. Dr. Brionez is a licensed psychologist, and APA minority fellow, who now works at the University of Wyoming’s counseling center. Dr. Brionez has primary interests in clinical service, outreach, and research interests in suicide in rural environments, and in ethnic and sexual minority populations.

Episode 13: Entering the Job Market Chun Tao met with Drs. Martin and Ragin to discuss transitioning to the job market and things to consider when you are applying for jobs. Dr. Deborah Fish Ragin is a Professor of Psychology at Montclair State University. Her professional service includes a five-year appointment as an American Psychological Association (APA) Representative to the United Nations where she focused on global efforts to address the psychosocial impact of HIV/AIDS. She currently serves as a member of the Health Research Council of the Health Psychology Division (Division 38) of the American Psychological Association and as a member of the Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education (CABE) also for the American Psychological Association. Dr. Ragin’s research focuses on health systems and health policy, examining disparities in health care. She is the author of numerous articles on HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, health care disparities, healthy communities, and research ethics, and of a leading textbook entitled Health Psychology: An Interdisciplinary Approach to health, now in its third edition, published by Routledge/Taylor and Francis. She also serves as a reviewer on several international and national journals, including Social Science and Medicine, American Journal of Nursing, Health Psychology Open, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, and others. Dr. Martin Igunchi is a Professor and Chair, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health. Dr. Iguchi received his AB in liberal arts from Vassar College, his MA, and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Boston University, and postdoctoral training in Behavioral Pharmacology and Drug Abuse from Johns Hopkins. He is also a former Director of the RAND Corporation's Drug Policy Research Center. Dr. Iguchi's more recent research has examined the sexual transmission of HIV, development of brief motivational and contingency management approaches for the treatment of substance abuse, barriers to treatment entry, and drug policies. Dr. Iguchi is also studying aging performing artists, examining the quality of life, life transitions, retirement planning, legacy planning, and roles in the community.

Episode 12: Navigating Academia (how to choose the right university or position) In this episode, Mentorship Co-Chair Krystal Christopher speaks with Drs. Enedina and Luis Vázquez about navigating academia and how to look for and choose the right university or position for you. Dr. Enedina García Vázquez is Professor of School Psychology in the Counseling & Educational Psychology Department in the College of Education at New Mexico State University. She earned a BS in elementary education from (Southwest) Texas State University, and MA in bilingual-bicultural studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a PhD in School Psychology from the University of Iowa. Dr. Vázquez has extensive leadership experience throughout her academic tenure serving as Associate Director for the Honors College, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Deputy Director of the Physical Science Laboratory and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the College of Education. Most recently she served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Education. Dr. Vázquez developed the EdS School Psychology and the recently approved PhD program at New Mexico State University. She served as the director of the EdS program for 11 years and will co-direct the doctoral program. An avid advocate for mentoring and building pathways to increase educational opportunities for people of color, Dr. Vázquez has developed various programs for students at the middle, high school as well at the post-secondary levels. She was Member-At-Large for Division 45 – Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race. Dr. Vázquez is Division 16 President-elect, after just recently completing her Division 45 presidential term. Dr. Luis A. Vázquez, is Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at New Mexico State University. Dr. Vázquez earned a B.A. degree from Illinois State University and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa. During his tenure at New Mexico State University, he has served as the Associate Vice President for Research since 2011 and recently Graduate Studies, along with being a Regents Professor. He has also served as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Department Head for Counseling and Educational Psychology, as well as on several leadership positions at New Mexico State University. Dr. Vázquez has presented at numerous national conferences and has been an invited speaker at national conventions to address the issues of academic success in underrepresented students of color. He also facilitated the development of the prescriptive privileges program for psychologists, which led to New Mexico being the first state to pass the law to allow psychologists to prescribe. Dr. Vázquez is a member of the American Psychological Association and has served on the Council of Representatives, the Commission on Accreditation, along with being the past president of The Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race, as well as past-chair of the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest for the American Psychological Association.

Episode 11: LGBTQIA Scholars, Researchers, and Educators Desa Karye Daniel spoke to Drs. Megan Speciale and Rafe McCullough about their work within academia, about their journey to create spaces through social justice work and advocacy, and how to balance work and life through vulnerability and truthfulness. Dr. Rafe McCullough is a Counselor Educator at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He has backgrounds in both school counseling, and in clinical mental health counseling and has worked predominantly with children, adolescents, and young adults. His writing and research interests focus on multicultural and social justice counseling and advocacy, LGBTQ, and particularly the needs of transgender individuals. He has been involved in advocacy efforts in transgender communities for over 20 years. Dr. Megan Speciale is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Program at Palo Alto University in Palo Alto, CA. Megan has worked as a professional counselor and advocate in a variety of community settings, focusing primarily on sexuality health and wellness and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQQIA) children, adolescents, adults, and their families. Her research includes intersectionality, sexuality, and the pedagogy of counseling.