Student Affiliates

2nd year, Experimental Psychology masters program

Currently, I am examining how mental illness stigma and stereotype content influence systematic patterns of cognitive, affective, and behavioral mechanisms involved in intergroup processes. My future research interests include exploring the effects of trauma on the developing brain, self-concept formation and psychotic disorders, prevention of child sexual abuse, and the impact of familial betrayal trauma.

2nd year, Experimental Psychology master's program

I am interested in the realm of identity research, ranging from topics of bicultural identity integration to master narratives, especially as they relate to the identity development of BIPOC individuals. I am also interested in exploring the link between identity development and mental health, in the hope to make mental health services more suitable and effective for all different kinds of communities.

2nd year, Experimental Psychology master's program

I am interested in self-efficacy and its relationship to academic success. Specifically, I want to look at self-efficacy in psychology students related to research and statistics. As a social science, psychology can often be caught between humanities and STEM, which may lead to psych students feeling a little lost in their science identity. Many psych students at Western don't identify as research-focused or math people, which could then result in them struggling with required statistics classes. I want to see if there are interventions that could be implemented in psychology research classes that improve students' self-efficacy, which in turn has the potential to improve academic performance. 

1st year, Experimental Psychology masters program

Broadly, my areas of interest include studying the impacts of various forms of trauma on marginalized groups. Specifically how competing cultural identities and mainstream messaging intersect to influence how trauma is processed in this population. The particular groups of interest to me are Asians/Asian Americans and biracial individuals. 

Undergraduate, Psychology Major, Disability Advocacy Minor

Pursuing psychology, to me, means honoring my mother. Her experiences of maltreatment in the mental health field encourage me to be a face and voice for women and children of color who have been harmed by outdated psychological paradigms. My unique experience of resilience as a child draws me to broaden the conversation to include vulnerable, forgotten victims of biased research and cultural misunderstanding. My passion is to drive systemic change that amplifies the voices of marginalized communities and promotes culturally sensitive understandings of mental health. 

For these reasons, I care deeply about women’s health, parent-child relationships, sociocultural development, intergenerational trauma, and personality disorders (especially BPD). My studies in Special Education at Woodring College of Education have expanded my passions to include working with children with disabilities, particularly those with autism or emotional and behavioral challenges. I am eager to apply my experiences at the Center for Cross-Cultural Research and my Psychology coursework toward my goal of becoming a therapist. I aim to develop a practice that incorporates a holistic approach, ideally highlighting the body, creation, and self-expression!

Undergraduate, Psychology major

I am interested in how trauma influences the development of emotion regulation and cognitive processes, especially among individuals with complex PTSD. Broadly, I am fascinated by the ways that interpersonal and early adverse experiences can affect memory, attention, and self-concept, and how these mechanisms contribute to long-term emotional wellbeing. I hope to pursue research that investigates trauma-related cognitive processes that may maintain symptoms such as intrusive memories and emotion dysregulation. Ultimately, I aim to contribute to trauma-informed intervention strategies that support recovery and resilience among trauma survivors, with an emphasis on bridging scientific research and practical applications in mental health care.

Undergraduate, Psychology and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies major

Through developing a cross-culturally informed lens on conducting research in both psychological and interdisciplinary methods, I see immense value in the meaningful connections and knowledge exchange this community represents. My long-term goals are to build my identity as a researcher by pursuing a master's and PhD with a focus on identity development, generating knowledge alongside the communities most impacted by institutional barriers to care. 

Undergraduate, Psychology major

Broadly speaking, I am interested in identity research, specifically bicultural identity integration, intervention development, and critical psychology. I seek to explore these topics in relation to identity and attitude development primarily among queer and trans BIPOC adolescents and emerging adults. Drawing on theoretical frameworks within critical psychology, I seek to examine overlapping systemic and interpersonal stressors that may affect the mental health and subjective well-being of underserved populations, with a particular interest in Asian Americans. Moreover, I aim to contribute to research that informs culturally sensitive mental health treatment approaches. Through this, I hope to develop community-based interventions that address systemic barriers to mental healthcare, encourage individuals’ self-efficacy in engaging in help-seeking behaviors, and support the well-being of individuals in these populations.

Undergraduate, Sociology and Public Health major

My research interests include the sociology of mental illness, the social determinants of health, and the study of neurodiversity. Specifically, I'm interested in examining the various ways that young adults with ADHD cope with and 'mask' their symptoms in college, employing various impression and stigma management strategies to do so. Additionally, I have experience researching Intimate Partner Violence using police body-worn camera footage, analyzing officers' levels of empathy, rapport-building, and minimizing language used towards victims, with differential treatment across gender and racial lines. In general, I hope that my future work can have a positive impact on the Latino, Queer, and neurodivergent communities. I joined the CCCR because of my passion for learning about cross-cultural research, to stay updated on the latest social scientific research at Western, and to form meaningful connections with fellow researchers!

Psychology Major, Chinese Minor

My research interests are focused around Asian Americans mental health and well-being, and its contributing cultural factors. I am hoping to one day be able to help the Asian American community through therapy and mental health support. Through being involved in the CCCR community, I will be better able to view therapy and psychology through a cross-cultural lens and be able to better serve a wider variety of individuals through the mental-health field.

Hello! I am Sophia Randell, a psychology student with a passion for cross-cultural and developmental psychology. My academic journey is driven by an interest in understanding the intersectionality of cultural influences on human development. I aspire to use knowledge as a future therapist, focusing on the well-being of black, indigenous, and youth of color. Through my studies, I hope to contribute meaningfully to the field, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for the next generation.

Undergraduate Psychology major, Disaster Risk Reduction minor

My research interests congregate around trauma and resilience in cross-cultural contexts, particularly within disaster psychology. I am particularly drawn to how people in different cultural settings experience, interpret, and recover from traumatic events like major disasters. I am curious about clinical modalities for refugees and asylum seekers that are culturally responsive, as well as the psychological experiences of disaster relief workers, including secondary trauma and motivations for service. I aim to translate research into meaningful mental health policy for NGOs working in humanitarian settings, as well as provide direct clinical support for those affected by disasters.