Why did you choose graduate school at IU Indianapolis?
I instantly clicked with my mentor, Dr. Kyle Minor, and we had significant overlap in our research interests. The students and faculty I met during interviews were extremely welcoming, and the students seemed collaborative, rather than competitive with one another. Also, as someone from the warm state of Arizona, I was excited to really experience the four seasons for the first time.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
My favorite accomplishment was being invited to give a talk at the Ohio State University EPICENTER. I was asked to give a 1-hour seminar on a systematic review I published, titled "Optimizing recovery in first-episode psychosis: A systematic review of psychosocial interventions." As a budding academic, it was exciting that others were interested in my research.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
I love the restaurants. My favorite is Strange Bird, a tiki ramen bar in Irvington. I also feel like Indy is the perfect blend of modernity and historic charm.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
Currently, I am working on my dissertation, which will look at risk and resilience factors as mediators of the relationship between sexual and gender minority (SGM) status and psychosis risk. Apart from dissertation, I help run the SONA study pool for 1st year psychology students to participate in on-campus research. I also TA and RA part-time, as well as work 2 days a week as a student clinician at a men's prison. When I am not busy doing those things, I am working on initiatives as the co-chair of the EDI committee for the Society for Research in Psychopathology (SRP), where I work to improve the accessibility of psychopathology research and academia for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.