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2026-2027 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
Kaitlin Flores
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a Community Psychology MS student, I completed my BS at DePaul University, Spring 2026. My previous research background surrounds working with children and adults dealing with mental health challenges and trauma. As well as working with survivors of violence to better understand and work towards legal systemic change to help ensure the justice of victims of violence. My research interests include advocacy, mental health and trauma, and systemic change. I am interested in learning more about how we can work within societies to help them uncover and utilize their already present skills to focus on positive community advancement and systemic change long term. As well as how education can be used to promote positive social and life skills.
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.
Rachel Lysaght
[She, Her, Hers]
I graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Sociology and Philosophy in May 2025. My primary research interests focus on strategies to better understand and reduce juvenile recidivism rates. Particularly, I want to know how building stronger interpersonal relationships and stable community resources might impact youth reentering the criminal justice system. I aim to pursue a Masters in Clinical Psychology or Community Counseling next fall and following that, a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. I would like to both research and guide youth navigating the challenges that may influence recidivism, using my research to inform policy on a community and city-wide scale. I am excited to contribute to this lab because of its commitment to serve at-risk youth through evidence-based practice.
Elina Mendoza
[She, Her, Hers]
I graduated in Spring, 2026 from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Writing and Rhetoric. My primary research interests include early intervention within child and adolescent mental health, with a particular focus on understanding how environmental and sociocultural factors, such as socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and access to mental health resources, influence mental health. I am especially passionate about improving access to evidence-based mental health services for underserved populations, particularly within Latinx communities. Following graduate school I plan to pursue studies in clinical mental health counseling or clinical psychology in Fall 2027, with the long-term goal of earning a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. I am very excited to be a part of the CEBP Lab and continue to learn new ways to integrate an effective evidence-based intervention, while making meaningful change supporting the children, adolescents, and families involved within Act and Adapt!
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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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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.​
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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Diana Crowell
[She, Her, Hers]
I am currently a sophomore at DePaul University studying Psychology with a minor in Human Development. After I graduate, I plan to continue my education and pursue a career in occupational therapy, with a focus on working with children. I am especially passionate about supporting children’s mental health and development and helping them build the skills they need to succeed in both school and everyday life. I am very excited to be part of the CEBP lab and to learn more about culture- and evidence-based practices in mental health counseling. I look forward to gaining new research skills and experiences that will help me grow both personally and professionally as I work toward my future career.
Daisy Mondragon
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a senior at DePaul University majoring in Psychology. After graduation, I plan to continue my education and pursue an MA in Mental Health Counseling or PhD in Clinical Psychology to become a therapist. I am passionate about working with women’s mental health within the Latinx communities. I hope to support women through the unique challenges that can come with motherhood while also helping address the cultural factors and barriers that can influence mental health and access to care. I am excited to be a part of the CEBP Lab team, where I can gain hands-on research experience, expand my knowledge of mental health and culturally informed care, and develop skills that I can carry with me throughout my education and future career.
Edith Herman-Lopez
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a junior at DePaul University majoring in Psychology. I currently have a concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and am considering switching to Human Services. After graduation, I plan to pursue a masters in either Industrial/Organizational Psychology or Clinical Psychology. I am really interested in the field of mental health, and more specifically on the emotions and psychological well-being of others. I am passionate about helping improve others' quality of life and learning more about how stress takes shape. In my future career, I hope to alleviate stress and other negative emotions from those I work for. I am extremely excited to be a part of the CEBP lab and have the opportunity to be a part of something that is working towards improving children’s mental health.
Caroline Reid
[She, Her, Hers]
I’m currently a senior at DePaul University majoring in Psychology (B.A.). After graduation, I plan to continue working as an assessment and intake coordinator at a mental health clinic, then seek further education in either research-focused or clinical psychology. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate mental health challenges and difficult circumstances at all stages of life. I am especially drawn to working with children, because the support they receive early on can shape how they cope, grow, and thrive for the rest of their lives. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have gained experience working with various at-risk populations and am interested in contributing to nonprofits serving communities affected by systemic barriers. I am ecstatic to work with the CEBP lab and am looking forward to combining research and hands-on interventions to help make mental health support more accessible for underserved youth and their families.
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Giselle Rios
[She, Her, Hers]
I am a junior at DePaul majoring in Health Science with a concentration in bioscience and a minor in Psychology. After graduation, I plan on continuing my education in dental school with aspirations of becoming a pediatric dentist. My initial interest in this lab stems from my past as a CPS student throughout my life. I am passionate about taking part in a change to help the younger generation of underserved students improve their mental health service accessibility. My interest in this research is to see which approaches from the lab's findings are the most beneficial for these students and to assist in implementing them. I am proud to be a part of the CEBP lab and am excited to gain more knowledge and help make a difference for mental health programs.
Vanessa Rodriguez
[She, Her, Hers]
I am currently a junior at DePaul University majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Human Development. After I graduate I plan to seek further education, focusing on school psychology or clinical psychology. Helping minority youth is something I find crucial, and that needs to be focused on more. Specifically I am passionate about the use of intervention methods in school-based settings when it comes to students’ mental health. I am very excited to be part of the CEBP lab and am looking forward to the different ways I will expand my skills and knowledge working here.
Lana Sarkisiani
[She, Her, Hers]
I am currently a junior at DePaul University majoring in psychology. After graduation, I am looking to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology to contribute to the advancements in research on mood and personality disorders. I am passionate about exploring the intricate aspects of the self, including cognitive and affective facets, and how they can be leveraged to design new treatments and interventions. I am very happy to be part of the CEBP lab, and I am looking forward to contributing to its mission of helping youth gain better skills to take care of their mental health and thrive. Additionally, I seek to expand my research skills and glean new insights that will inform my future research career.
Estella Singson
[She, Her, Hers]
I am currently a sophomore at DePaul majoring in Psychology (B.S) on the premed track. After I graduate, I plan to enroll in medical school and pursue a career as a psychiatrist. My passion for psychology stems from a deep desire to help people, particularly those of underserved communities who often have the least access to care. I’m especially drawn to the intersection of mental and physical health and how addressing both can transform outcomes for vulnerable populations. I am thrilled to be a part of a project focused on helping minority youth and improving their well-being. I believe that equipping them with the tools to cope with mental health challenges early can have a lasting, positive impact on their lives. Joining the CEBP lab team is an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with underserved populations while building knowledge that will shape my career as a future psychiatrist. I’m excited for everything I learn and contribute along the way.