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.