Assistant Professor | Developmental Psychology Office: 808 W Franklin St. Email: williamscd13@vcu.edu Phone: (804) 828-1620

Dr. Chelsea D. Williams (she/her/ella) research focuses on understanding how risk and resilience factors contribute to psychological, educational, and health outcomes/disparities among Latine, Black, and Multiracial youth and families. Her expertise is in in ethnic-racial identity, ethnic-racial socialization, discrimination/colorism, and cultural experiences across the lifespan. She is especially passionate about extending our understanding of these processes in adolescence/emerging adulthood to earlier developmental periods (e.g., early and middle childhood) by advancing theory and measurement in innovative ways. Her work centers primarily in applied settings (e.g., homes, schools, and communities), and uses advanced quantitative methods to model processes, as well as translate findings into interventions and programs.

Outside of lab, Dr. Williams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and working on her photography & crafting skills.

Dr. Williams loves team science! She is a Core Member of the Culture, Race and Health Transdisciplinary Core at the Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation (iCubed), which is a transdisciplinary team that designs studies and interventions aimed at examining and addressing health disparities. She is also part of two centers that work in interdisciplinary teams: Institute Faculty at the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, as well as Affiliated Faculty at the Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, and has been published in journals such as Child Development, Developmental Psychology, & Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology.

"Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world." -Dolores Huerta

Maiah Jackson (she/they) is a Ph.D. Student in the Developmental Psychology Program, and Graduate Research Assistant in the EMPOWER Youth Lab. Her research interests include exploring how intersectional aspects (e.g., ethnicity, culture, gender, race) affect the identity and emotional development of children and adolescents of color. Her goal is to further bridge the gap between research and real-world application among BIPOC communities. Outside of the lab, Maiah enjoys discovering new food spots, expanding her tastes in literature, and spending time with her dog, Sprout.

“Education is education. We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow. Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human.” — Malala Yousafzai

Office: 828 W. Franklin St. | Email: jacksonm17@vcu.edu

Dr. Arlenis Santana (she/her/ella) is a Postdoctoral Scholar who received the VCU Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (VCU IRACDA). She recently graduated with her PhD in developmental psychology in May 2023. Her research interests include examining risk, resilience, and cultural characteristics in Latine and Black families, with a focus on children and parents' mental health outcomes. Her dissertation focused on understanding how risk factors (i.e., discrimination and ACEs) and cultural characteristics (i.e., ethnic-racial identity) underlie the process of racial socialization, and in turn, youth and caregivers’ mental health. She is dedicated to uplifting strengths in Latine and Black communities through her work. Dr. Santana is also passionate about mentoring undergraduate students with underrepresented backgrounds and introducing them to everything about research! Outside of the lab, Dr. Santana enjoys introducing her son Nico to new activities, acquiring new hobbies and skills, and catching up on her favorite Netflix shows.

“We open doors so others can walk through them.” – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Office: 828 W. Franklin St. | Email: santanaaa@vcu.edu

Allison Barrientos (she/her) is a psychology major with minors in chemistry & biology. She is in the Accelerated Master’s in Counselor Education program with a focus in Family & Couples counseling. She is passionate about making a genuine difference in people's lives by advocating for her patients and their families, learning about different health conditions, and working alongside medical teams in various hospital units at VCU Health. She wants to open her own practice where she will provide low-cost mental health services to underserved communities with a patient-centered and culturally competent approach. After graduation, she will be staying an extra year at VCU to complete her Master’s degree. She will be working as a LMFT for a couple of years before applying to medical school. She aspires to become a child & adolescent psychiatrist. In her free time, she loves photography, reading, volunteering, spending time with loved ones, and exploring art galleries/museums.

“La gente más feliz no es la que tiene lo mejor de todo, sino la que hace lo mejor con lo que tiene.”- Esperanza Chavez de Borja

Amaria Ford (she/her) is a biology major. She is interested in creating equal opportunities for people of color in the healthcare field, as well as making sure that people from all racial/ethnic backgrounds are able to get the treatment they need regarding their mental and physical health. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and become a doctor in the endocrinology field. Outside of the lab, Amaria enjoys singing, cooking, and crocheting.

“Instead of inheriting a broken system, we have the power to change it.” - Yara Shahidi

Bianca Bollinger (she/her) is a psychology major at vcu. Her areas of interest in this field are both child and cultural psychology. After college, Bianca plans to work in the field for a couple years before moving on to grad school. Outside of lab, Bianca enjoys cooking for her friends and family, going to museums, and hanging out with her dog.

“Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too.” -Mark Twain

Chelsea Ennin (she/her) is a biology major on the premed track with minors in theatre and psychology. She is interested in women's health and health disparities in medicine. After VCU, she hopes to do a post-bacc program and then go to medical school. Outside of lab, she enjoys reading, theatre, and baking.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”– Maya Angelou”

Dalia Tedros (she/her) is an HPEX (Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science) major with a psychology minor on a Physician Assistant track. Her interests are patient care and addressing health disparities. After graduating, she plans on applying to physician assistant school. Outside of lab her favorite interests are listening to music, cooking, and going to the gym.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. ~ Mark Twain

Dawassir Daffallah (she/her) is a double major in biology and psychology with a minor in chemistry. Her interests are in understanding the complexity of disparities within healthcare and aiming to become a mediator by pursuing a future in medicine. After VCU, she plans to attend medical school in pursuit of becoming a physician. Outside of lab, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, learning to cook new foods, and experiencing the vast range of cultures of the world.

“Don’t count the days; make the days count” -Muhammad Ali

Georgina Martinez-Minero (they/she) is an HPEX (Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science) major on the Dental Hygiene track with a minor in Sociology. They are interested in understanding and fixing racial/ethnic/class disparities in healthcare. After graduating, they plan to get into a Dental Hygiene program and become a licensed dental hygienist. They hope to work with those who are disregarded in the healthcare system, such as those who cannot afford healthcare, feel unsafe seeking healthcare due to racial or cultural bias, or otherwise feel disenfranchised by the healthcare community at large. Their favorite hobbies and activities outside of lab are listening to music, spending time with their friends, scrapbooking, and baking.

“There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.” - Doctor Who

Jason Bonilla-Landers (he/him) is a double major in psychology and African American studies. His research interests are in the effects of poverty on ethnic minority youth. After graduating, he plans on attending graduate school to continue his studies in developmental psychology. Outside of the lab, he enjoys watching and playing sports, reading, and watching tv shows and movies.

“Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.” ― Frantz Fanon

Johanna Pasquel (she/her) is a psychology major. She earned an associate degree in psychology. She is interested in reforming the foster care system and aiding adoptees and foster youth who have had different traumatic experiences. She hopes to serve youth to enable them to be their best healed version of themselves, while thriving in society. After graduation, Johanna plans on attending graduate school to continue her studies in psychology. Outside of lab, Johanna likes to journal, paint, listen and learn music, as well as be with her brothers and friends.

“I believe the ultimate evil is seeing what’s wrong and looking away when you have the power to make the difference.” -Gabriel Fernandez Netflix documentary

Josselyn Valenzuela, a Social Work major, is deeply passionate about advocating for the Latino community and addressing disparities in healthcare access. Her research interests focus on women's health within minority populations. She will pursue a Master's in Clinical Social Work to specialize in providing mental health support to underserved groups. Josselyn is committed to making a meaningful difference through culturally competent interventions and community engagement. Outside of academics, she enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures.

"Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." - Mattie Stepanek

Kim Nguyen (she/her) is a psychology major. After graduating, she would like to attend Physician Assistant schooling or a related healthcare occupation. She loves psychology because she not only wants to be successful in healthcare on the biological side, but she wants to be compassionate with her patients and better understand what they are going through on the sidelines. She is interested in acrylic paintings of food and video-games.

"The secret to getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

Llorielle Gregory-Jerome (she/her/hers) is a psychology major and Education minor. She is interested in going into the mental health field, particularly focusing on children and teens of color. After graduation, she plans to go attend graduate school. She is passionate about singing, her faith, and doing self-care activities.

"When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded, and press on." - LL Cool J

Mehak Ahmed (she/her) graduated in May 2022 with her bachelor’s in psychology and double minor in chemistry and biology. She is currently a post-bacc research assistant in lab. Her primary research interests include children’s ethnic-racial identity and cultural experiences that contribute to their developmental lifespan. She is also interested in examining the link between colorism/discrimination and health disparities among minority children and families. She plans on attending graduate school to continue her studies. Outside of lab, she enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants, dancing, listening to music, cooking new recipes, and traveling around the world.

“Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it.” - Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Natalya Escobar (she/her/ella) is a nursing major at the School of Nursing in Virginia Commonwealth University. She aspires to become a nurse that extends a helping hand to those in need of support and care, particularly in communities that are often overlooked and underserved. Her passion for improving the lives of underserved groups is a constant driving force, and she envisions a future where legal and healthcare policies promote equality and justice for all. After graduation she plans on working in the intensive care unit and later becoming a travel nurse. When she's not working in the lab or helping patients, she loves to explore art galleries, capturing her journeys through photography, and traveling to many different and interesting places around the globe.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

Paloma Rodriguez Saucedo (she/her/they) is a social work major with a minor in Spanish. Her interests are working with Latine youth with a focus on drug and alcohol prevention. After graduation she plans to enroll in a master's social work program to become a licensed clinical social worker and study abroad in Mexico. Outside of the lab, her hobbies/interests include cooking, writing poetry, baking, and spending time with her mom and younger sister.

“He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.” - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Shaiyino Hicks also known as Endia Hicks (she/her) is a psychology major on the pre-medicine track. She obtained her associate degree in human & social services, and currently owns a clothing line, Halfway Sane, that focuses on normalizing the practice of positive mental health. Her interests include expanding her knowledge of social work and psychology locally and internationally within Black and Latinx communities. After graduating she plans to attend Medicine School to become a Psychiatrist.

“March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path.” - Khalil Gibran

Tatiana Yarborough (she/her) is a nursing major. Her interests include working alongside children, identifying how they view their ethnic-racial identity, and using this understanding to provide better care to minority families in the healthcare setting. After graduation, she plans to work in pediatrics, either in inpatient or outpatient. Outside the lab, she enjoys going to the beach, singing, and hanging out with friends.

“Women belong in all places where decisions are made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Yvette Asare (she/her) is a double major in theater and psychology with a minor in creative writing. Her interests span from the world of performance art to literature to learning about how our brains work. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for psychology in pursuit of becoming a professor/therapist. Outside the lab, she enjoys performing on stage, reading, and hanging out with friends.

"Momento mori (live now because we will all leave this earth)” -author unknown