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2025-2026 Team Members
Elizabeth Martinez-Charleston
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a doctoral student in the Clinical-Community Psychology program at DePaul University. My research interests broadly focus on examining factors that influence the mental health development of adolescents and exploring how these factors impact educational outcomes, specifically among Latinx youth. I am also interested in understanding how cultural and familial factors influence help-seeking behaviors in minority youth. Lastly, I am interested in increasing the accessibility of culturally informed interventions and treatments to bilingual families through community-based organizations.
Doctoral Students
Melissa Lopez
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a doctoral student in the Clinical-Child Psychology program at DePaul University. My research interest focuses primarily on Latinx youth. Specifically, I am interested in examining the effects of Parentification (e.g., language brokering, caretaking, and more) on Latinx youth. I am also interested in the impact that machismo and marianismo have on Latinx youth. Lastly, I am interested in exploring the development of culturally sensitive after school interventions.
Maria Jose Gonzalez
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a doctoral student at DePaul University. My research interests broadly focus on the cultural, historical, and systemic factors shaping the mental health outcomes of diverse youth. I am most interested in how experiences of immigration and documentation status affect the mental health of Latine youth, particularly in terms of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, I am interested in evidence-based cultural adaptations and community interventions that may help youth cultivate resilience and improve mental health.
Graduate Student Leaders &
Research Assistants
Catherine Garcia-Goetting
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a Research Psychology MS student with a BS in Psychology from DePaul University (2021). My research background is in the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based interventions for youth with internalizing disorders. My research interests include examining the barriers to accessing high-quality interventions, the factors that moderate treatment effectiveness, and the development of culturally informed treatments that address those barriers and can be tailored to specific populations. In the future, I hope to explore these issues further by pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology.
Project Coordinators & Post B.A./B.S. Research Assistants
I graduated from DePaul University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in human development, and minors in Latin American and Latino Studies as well as Women and Gender Studies. These fields tie together to provide knowledge and insight into my research interests which are primarily focused on the intersections of people’s lives. Particularly, the influence of cultural and ethnic factors on the mental health and well-being of populations that are not well represented in the field.
[She, Her, Hers]
Amber Ramos
​I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical-Community Psychology and Spanish. My primary research interests include cultural and familial influences on the development of internalizing disorders in minoritized youth, particularly Latinx youth. I am also interested in culturally-informed interventions at the community level. In the future I hope to further my research by obtaining a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology.
[She, Her, Hers]
Ashley Serna
Evelyn Andrade
I graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology and a minor in Sociology. My research interests include understanding the various factors that impact the mental health of Latinx and African American community members, in particular anxiety and depression. Along with understanding and developing strategies to bridge the gap in participation in mental health services. In the future, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and work with minority youth populations.
Jessica Saavedra
[She, Her, Hers]
I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in clinical/community psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in May 2025. My research interests include investigating the effectiveness of a multicultural perspective for educational materials for underrepresented groups and gaining a better understanding of mental health within minority communities. I hope to improve mental health awareness and acceptance within minority communities. Overall, my goals are to help marginalized and linguistically diverse children and their families receive the mental health care they deserve. For me, this is becoming a child psychologist to children in Spanish-speaking families. Looking forward, I will begin DePaul’s Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Program in Fall 2026 in order to get me one step closer to achieving my goals. I am excited to continue my work in research at the CEBP Lab, as it helps me to learn more about mental health research while simultaneously providing underserved communities with mental health resources.
Anvitha Vadlamudi
[She, Her, Hers]
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University in 2025. My research interests lie in implementation science, particularly in how existing interventions and treatments can be adapted and applied in broader contexts to better support individuals from marginalized backgrounds. I am especially interested in interventions for adolescents from underserved populations, including those in foster care, from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and ethnic minority groups. In addition, I am interested in exploring systemic and structural barriers that prevent marginalized adolescents from receiving appropriate mental health care. My long-term goal is to pursue a PhD in Counseling Psychology with a focus on working with children. I am excited to be a part of the CEBP Lab and contribute to research that delivers interventions to underserved youth.​​​​​
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Zoe Weeks
[She, Her, Hers]
I graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Sociology and Education in May 2025. My research interests include evaluating the effectiveness of evidence-based treatment programs and adapting established interventions to better support adolescents. I am particularly interested in how social, environmental, and cultural factors contribute to depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors among minority youth populations. In the future, I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to gain a deeper understanding of factors associated with the development of youth mental health challenges and ways to improve the accessibility and impact of evidence-based interventions. I aim to contribute to research that ensures youth mental health concerns are effectively addressed across diverse communities. I am excited to be part of the CEBP Lab because of its focus on creating real-world impact and improving mental health outcomes for underserved populations.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
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Evelin Regalado
[She, Her, Hers]
I am currently a junior at DePaul University majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Hunan Development and minoring in Latin American and Latino Studies. After I graduate, I plan to pursue further education in developmental or clinical psychology, and become an advocate for the mental health needs of individuals in underserved communities. I find it fascinating to see how coping strategies can help one improve their mental well-being. That's why I'm excited to be working at the CEBP Lab, where I can learn more about the effectiveness of these strategies and help address mental health concerns among high-risk youth.
Mia Lippert
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a junior at DePaul majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services, with minors in Spanish and Women's & Gender Studies. After graduation, I plan to continue my education and pursue a MA in counseling or clinical psychology to become a therapist. I am passionate about helping individuals of all ages understand themselves better and provide them with tools they can use in order to live the best life they can. I believe strongly in starting this process in childhood and adolescence so they are able to utilize these skills throughout their adult life. I am thrilled to be on the CEBP Lab team and be able to gain real-world experience with what I am passionate about, as well as gain knowledge that I can carry with me in my future career.
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Allyson Bradley
[She, Her, Hers]
I’m currently a senior at DePaul majoring in Psychology (B.S) with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in African and Black Diaspora studies. After I graduate, I plan to continue my studies and pursue a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling (LPC) to become a Child and Adolescent Therapist. My research interests include evaluating the impact of systemic disparities on the physical and mental health of children, specifically within the African American community. Through undergraduate coursework, I have conducted research on the importance of positive interpersonal relationships at school for male BIPOC students who are at-risk of entering the school to prison pipeline and investigating culture as the primary mediator for parental disciplinary methods. I’m thrilled to be part of the CEPB lab and contribute to improving the mental health outcomes of underserved youth in Chicago.​