Dr. Maria Santos, Principal Investigator
I was born in Los Angeles to Guatemalan-born parents. I was raised in the West Los Angeles and working-class West Adams neighborhoods. I attended Alexander Hamilton High School and subsequently earned a BA degree in Political Science from University of California, Los Angeles. As an undergraduate, I developed an interest in conducting research on mental illness, psychosocial treatment, and mental health services that considers the needs of underrepresented and underserved U.S. ethnic/racial minorities. I went on to complete graduate studies in clinical psychology at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). After earning my doctoral degree in 2016, I joined the Culture & Mental Health Lab in the Department of Psychology at University of Southern California (USC) as a postdoctoral scholar. I joined faculty in the Department of Psychology at CSUSB in 2018.
I enjoy spending time with my husband and our family and friends. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, eating delicious food, and listening to and learning from people’s stories.
Alberto Diaz, B.A. Psychology
Hello, my name is Alberto Diaz and I am an undergraduate alumnus from California State University Northridge. In 2021, I graduated from CSUN with my bachelor's degree in Psychology and I will soon be a graduate student in California State University, San Bernardino's Clinical/Counseling Psychology Program. My research interests are on identifying risk factors for depressive disorders and the optimization of treatments for said disorders. I am also interested in how to best address the disparities in mental health care for ethnic minorities who suffer with depressive and anxiety disorders. My goal is to achieve my PhD in clinical psychology so that I may work primarily as a clinical researcher and a part-time clinician who specializes in helping Latinos who are experiencing depression and/or anxiety.
Estevan Hernandez, B.A. Psychology, B.A. Human Development (Child Development Track)
Graduated from California State University, San Bernardino in 2020. I hope to go on to become a student in a clinical/ counseling program to work on another extensive thesis project and expand my knowledge within the psychological field, clinically researched therapy methods, and the research process. My research interests include counseling considerations of multicultural groups (e.g., Latinx, LGBTQIA+), environmental predictors of mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety), and developmental psychology. In the PROMESA Lab, I am tasked with coding therapy sessions, translating consent/assent forms, editing IRB documents, and contacting directors of graduate programs across California for various tasks involving the present study.
Maya Kratzer, B.A. Psychology
I received a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and am currently a Lab Manager at Boston University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Before joining BU I worked with Dr. Santos in the Culture and Mental Health Lab at USC and have followed her work and research ever since. My interests include development and implementation of health interventions, and bridging psychological theory, research, and real-world practice to address disparities in healthcare and mental health services for underserved communities.
Karla Lopez, B.A. Psychology
Hello! I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a bachelor's in psychology. Afterwards, I worked in the social services field for several years, where I learned valuable skills relating to engaging culturally diverse individuals and navigating community resources. I had the honor of working with various populations; I have worked with first-time parents, children with an intellectual disability, dependent adults, and older adults. As a result, I have learned to provide a range of services to vulnerable people. Currently, I am a second-year student of the M.A. in Clinical Psychology program offered by California State University, Dominguez Hills. My goal is to one day become a clinician to help the Latinx population break down barriers and stigmas that exist in this community surrounding mental health needs.
Ariana Luna, B.A. Psychology
I graduated from CSUSB with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in Summer 2020. I plan to apply to masters and PhD clinical programs that are research oriented because I believe being involved in research makes stronger clinicians. My current research interests are evidence based treatments, ramifications of stigma on mental health, and increasing patient engagement in therapy.
Katherine Mirafuentes
Hi, I'm Kathy! I am pursuing a BA in Psychology and I'm in my second year. I'm planning to get my masters in Clinical Psychology at Cal State San Bernardino. I want to eventually be a licensed Clinical Psychologist, so then I can help those with mental health struggles, which will hopefully help those around them as well. In my downtime, I love watching movies and sewing.
Jonatan Montanez
Hello, my name is Jonatan! I graduated from Cal State University, San Bernardino in May 2022 with a B.A in Psychology. I hope to further my education within the clinical/counseling realm and become a licensed therapist to help those that might be facing mental health struggles. My emphasis of work would be directed towards lower-income communities. In terms of my hobbies, I love photography and traveling.
Melody Robinson, B.A. Psychology, Current M.A. Psychological Science
Hello! I am currently a second year graduate student in the M.A. Psychological Science program with plans to graduate Spring 2021 from CSUSB. My current goal is to seek acceptance to a Clinical Psychology PhD program with a focus in trauma exposure research. Currently, I am interested in intersectional trauma research, including historically marginalized groups' access to preventative and treatment services for violence and assault, women's experiences with sexual assault and their challenges coping, and examining variables like self-compassion, coping self-efficacy, and shame after sexual assault.
Berenice Rosas, B.A. Psychology
I graduated from California State University, San Bernardino in 2019 with a BA in Psychology. During my college career, I developed an interest in studying mental health disorders and comorbid conditions among underserved groups. As a member of the PROMESA lab, I participated in research regarding behavioral interventions applied to the Latino community. Most recently, I am working on a study to assess the psychometric properties of two recently translated measures. My long-term goal is to obtain an academic faculty position and conduct research focused on prevention and intervention programs for substance use and comorbid disorders that are more accessible and adapted for under-served communities. I am determined to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to actualize these goals.
Carmen C. Uribe
I am a 4th year at CSUSB and part of the NIH-URISE program. I am currently engaged in research related to neuropsychological disorders and severe mental illness. My long-term goal is to investigate mechanisms of emotional, psychological, and behavioral problems in minorities that will lead to better treatment outcomes. I hope to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and use clinical work to inform my research.
Yenny Valenzuela
Hi there! I am currently a graduate student in the M.A. Psychological Science program with a Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience concentration. My research interests focus on neuropsychological disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease), depression, and psychosis. My goal is to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, more specifically Neuropsychology, and develop better treatment outcomes, as well as to inform communities about the importance of mental health.
Ronnie De Leon
Anel Corona
