Sofia Adame has been working with CREAR since 2023, where she started as a volunteer Research Assistant. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, with a B.S. in Psychology and Anthropology, a minor in Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies, and a Global Studies certificate. Her primary areas of interest surround contextual factors related to gender-based violence, particularly the role of institutional, cultural and colonial rhetorics that promote gender norms, help-seeking and reproductive resources. She is particularly interested in examining sexual violence and femicides experienced by Latin American women both in their home context and throughout the immigration journey. As a third culture Mexican immigrant, CREAR Lab provides a space to examine a wide array of these issues through extensive collaboration and community-based work. She believes in transforming “data” to reflect real experiences in the hopes of developing policies, interventions and education programs that are culturally relevant for directed communities. Sofia has demonstrated her dedication to this work in multiple settings outside of CREAR ranging from volunteering for poverty alleviation in Honduras, social work among refugees in Spain, and medical translation in hospital settings.

Ashley Lopez holds a B.A. in Psychology (Honors) and an M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from NYU, with minors in Social Work and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Former Project Coordinator at NYU's West Interpersonal Perception Lab, she studies how social support shapes academic and workplace outcomes for minoritized communities and plans to pursue a Ph.D.

Maddie McCray (they/she) is a senior at Pitt pursuing a Bachelor's of Philosophy in psychology, a Bachelor of the Arts in political science, and a minor in German. They focus broadly in developmental psychology and political theory, exploring adolescent psychopathology, democratic theory, and feminist thought. Maddie is especially interested in the links between systematic, neoliberal inequities and adolescent development. The CREAR lab aligns with her interest in working with underrepresented adolescent populations with a focus on trauma, mental health, and protective factors. They are currently writing their undergraduate honors thesis with the CREAR Lab, exploring the links between bullying victimization, interpersonal support, and mental health outcomes in urban Mexican adolescents. Maddie is also an undergraduate research assistant under Dr. Michael Goodhart, focusing on the multiplicity of human rights theory and practice through exploring the work of radical social movements. Outside of research, Maddie enjoys crocheting weird little creatures and unfinished blankets, hiking, spending time with their dog, reading, and going to the gym.

Ángel Alfredo Oros has been working with CREAR since July 2025, initially joining informally to rebuild the lab's website from the ground up. As Digital Manager, Ángel oversees all aspects of the lab's digital presence, including the website, an internal research management system currently in development, and lab photography including headshots and event coverage. Ángel comes from Nogales and Tucson, Arizona, and relocated to the Pittsburgh area in mid-2025. He is completing a B.A. in Management and Organizational Leadership and has built the operational and technical infrastructure that supports both the lab's day-to-day research workflows and its community-facing presence. Ángel believes in building systems that work, ones that make the work of researchers more seamless so the focus can stay on the people and communities being served. He is committed to making the lab's digital spaces easy to navigate, visually cohesive, and representative of the people and projects that shape CREAR.

Geraldine is a second-year Developmental Psychology Ph.D. student at Pitt and K. Leroy Irvis Fellow. Harvard A.B. in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience & Evolutionary Psychology) with a minor in Social Anthropology. She studies how sociocultural contexts shape youth and family experiences with psychopathology and treatment-seeking and aims to inform accessible, culturally relevant interventions.

I am a second-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, I’m pursuing a Global Health certificate from the School of Public Health at Pitt. Before joining the lab, I received my Bachelor's of Science in Health Sciences and Neuroscience as well as my Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology from Cleveland State University. Before joining CREAR Lab, I worked in Clinical and Social Psychology labs examining how childhood adversity manifests in communication and conflict behaviors for young adults in relationships. I joined the CREAR Lab in 2023 as a Hot Metal Bridge Post-Bacc Fellow where I began studying the link between household stressors, such as financial hardship and family conflict, and mental health outcomes with data collected in rural Mexico. My research has since shifted to focus more generally on traumatic experiences, event centrality, and protective factors for Latin Americans and across the Latinx diaspora. Additionally, I’m actively involved in mentoring through programs such as Hot Metal Bridge Post-Bacc Fellowship, Psychology Partnership for Undergraduate and Graduate Students (PUGS), and Women in Research. Outside of academia, I can be found spending time with my dog Murphy or my family. I also love to bake, experiment with new recipes, and watch my favorite shows on repeat.

Courtney (she/her) is a third-year developmental psychology PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh. She is co-mentored by Dr. Sophie Choukas-Bradley and Dr. Andrea Medrano. She was awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship in 2025. Courtney graduated with highest honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021, where she double majored in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies and minored in Latina/o Studies. Following her graduation, she worked as a research project coordinator in UNC’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience under Drs. Eva Telzer and Kristen Lindquist. Using intersectional feminist and youth-centered approaches, Courtney explores the impact of gendered harm across digital and in-person contexts on adolescent development and mental health. Her work examines sociocultural factors, such as gender role beliefs, as potential risk and protective factors. She aims for her work to inform culturally grounded interventions for Latine victims of gendered and sexual violence. Outside of work, she enjoys trying new coffee shops and playing board games with her friends and family.

Patrick is a first-year doctoral student in the joint Clinical–Developmental Psychology PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh. His research investigates how trauma exposure influences developmental processes in Latino/a communities, with an emphasis on identifying risk and resilience factors that shape mental health, academic trajectories, and social development across Latin America and border regions between the United States and Mexico. Additionally, Patrick is dedicated to promoting mental health equity for Latino/a and other historically underrepresented communities through a strengths based framework that prioritizes culturally adapted interventions and equitable access to care.

Yadira (HMB Fellow 2024-2025) earned an M.S.W. in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse and a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition & Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. Former Lab Manager of the CASA Lab (UM). She studies how adverse childhood experiences shape brain/behavioral development and how policy, community, and family intersect in youth well-being.

Dollar earned a master's degree in Marriage & Family Therapy at the University of Oregon. She is curious about how identities intersect with daily life, with prior work on belonging in classroom/social settings and on pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to depression and epilepsy.

Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Mia graduated from Johns Hopkins University in May 2025 with a BA in Public Health and Medicine, Science, and the Humanities. She is now a first-year MSPH student in the Social and Behavioral Interventions program in the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she is also pursuing a certificate in Maternal and Child Health. Her previous research examined the intersection of unstable housing and mental health among transgender women. She is currently conducting a review of mental health policy in Bogotá, Colombia, to support cross-sector collaboration and inform efforts to integrate mental health into public policy. Her future research interests focus on women's sexual and reproductive health, particularly how social and structural determinants shape access to care and health outcomes. She aims to use community-engaged approaches to expand access to quality sexual and reproductive health services in rural and Indigenous communities across Latin America.

Kaitlyn Irizarry-Vega earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, with a minor in Philosophy of Mind and Language. Her research interests include understanding how resilience can be cultivated across development to promote well-being and motivation, particularly among youth in underserved communities. She is especially interested in identifying protective factors that buffer against adversity and promote positive personal and professional development. In the CREAR Lab, she is contributing to studies that investigate how traumas shape the identity formation and mental health of Puerto Rican college students. Kaitlyn plans to pursue a PhD in psychology to investigate resilience and well-being across both developmental and applied contexts. Outside of academia, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, distance running, and making pottery.

Zainab Kabir is a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Her research interests include trauma, mental health, and social behavior, with a focus on how cultural and community factors influence psychological well-being. Through her work in the CREAR Lab, she examined the relationship between community violence exposure and mental health outcomes in rural Mexican communities. Zainab plans to pursue a Master's degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology to study workplace behavior and promote employee well-being within organizations.

Erin Lancaster is a 2025-2026 Hot Metal Bridge (HMB) Post-Baccalaureate Fellow in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned a Bachelor of Philosophy in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in May 2025. Erin is interested in exploring how culture, identity, and social context shape youth development and access to mental health resources. Outside of academics, she enjoys sewing, crocheting, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.

Amelia Leonard graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Philosophy in Psychology and a minor in Economics. She joined the CREAR Lab at its inception and currently works with the lab remotely as a research assistant. She previously served as the lab’s Administrative Research Assistant, where she coordinated a team of undergraduate researchers and helped organize research tasks and lab operations. Through her work in the lab, Amelia has conducted literature reviews, assisted with scale validation, contributed to conference submissions, and supported the dissemination of research findings. She also managed the lab’s social media presence and helped coordinate communication and project organization among members of the undergraduate research team. Amelia completed her Honors Thesis within the CREAR Lab, where she examined how community violence exposure and intimate partner violence in rural Mexico relate to PTSD symptoms, with gender as a moderating factor. Her broader research interests focus on gender based violence and sexual harassment and the ways these experiences shape psychological well being and mental health outcomes. She is particularly interested in understanding how social, cultural, and gender related dynamics influence experiences of harassment and violence and how these experiences contribute to disparities in mental health. Outside of her research work, Amelia enjoys spending time outdoors, especially bike riding, swimming, traveling, and spending time around animals. She also enjoys creative hobbies such as painting and drawing, as well as spending time with her loved ones.

Angela Martinez earned her Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology, at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2023. After undergrad, she joined the Hot Metal Bridge (HMB) Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship program where she worked in the Department of Neuroscience. In January 2024, she joined Dra. Andrea Medrano’s Community Research Exploring Adolescent Resilience (CREAR) Lab to gain further experience in strength-based approaches to research. After Angela’s HMB year, she transitioned to work in a neuroimaging lab at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center studying how neurodevelopmental processes take place during adolescence to support the transition to adulthood. In parallel, she has continued to work in the CREAR Lab contributing to projects that study protective factors and mental health outcomes in youth facing contextual adversity. Angela is driven to understand how biological, psychological, and social systems converge to shape mental health and to translate that understanding into equitable, community-based interventions. Her long-term goals are to continue collaborative interdisciplinary research and implementation while advancing novel approaches toward access to essential health resources.

Anthony Medina is a graduate of Mercy University, where he earned his Master of Science in General Psychology. He is also a graduate of Fordham University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He currently serves as a Postgraduate Research Associate under the mentorship of Dr. Carla Stover within the Yale Child Study Center. Anthony is interested in examining the factors that contribute to trauma among at-risk Latiné youth. In particular, he is interested in investigating protective factors (e.g., parent-child relationships, mentorship, and familismo) that may act as a pathway to resilience. He is also interested in adapting and developing interventions for Latiné families that draw upon cultural strengths to promote resilience in the face of adversity. In his free time, Anthony enjoys traveling to New York City, listening to music, trying new restaurants, and spending time with his family.

Zhiyu Cheng is a junior majoring in Psychology. Research interests focus on developmental psychology, community mental health, and cultural influences on health outcomes. Joined the CREAR Lab to build research skills and contribute to community-based projects that support youth resilience. Outside academics, enjoys playing badminton and working out.

Cinthya Garcia Cortes is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. She was born and raised in southern Mexico and moved to Pittsburgh 8 years ago. Cinthya intends to pursue a double major in Neuroscience and Psychology. She is interested in psychopathology and its relation to neuroscience as well as social development and its intersection with sociocultural components.

Fourth-year BSN student pursuing honors and a minor in Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies; multilingual (English, Spanish, Mandarin, French). Aspires to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner supporting underserved communities.

Hrishik is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh studying both Biology and Psychology on the pre-medicine track. Lived and raised in New Jersey before moving to Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Med Life club and the Psychology club and enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, and going on walks.

Freshman majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. Plans to specialize in psychiatry and clinical psychology. Interested in healthcare and interdisciplinary research.

Hannah Kravets is a second-year undergraduate in Psychology and Film and Media Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. She has extensive research experience and a strong interest in clinical and neuropsychology. Hannah serves on executive boards for multiple psychology and neuroscience organizations at Pitt, works as an undergraduate teaching assistant, and has co-authored peer-reviewed publications indexed on PubMed. She plans to attend graduate school with goals of teaching psychology and working professionally in the field.

Fabiana Lleras is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Linguistics. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she is also a member of the Med Life club and the Applied Developmental Psychology club. Being part of this lab aligns with her plans to further her education in developmental psychology.

Janeyra Maldonado is a first-year student at the University of Pittsburgh double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology on the pre-med track. Raised in Westchester, New York, she is interested in the intersection of psychological processes and neuroscience in adolescent development. As a first-generation college student, she is passionate about serving underserved communities, particularly Hispanic communities, and improving access to healthcare.

Senior nursing student also pursuing Psychology; experience in TBI rehab. Interested in supporting underserved adolescents at the intersection of care and mental health.

Junior (Class of 2027) majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Plans to conduct research and work as a clinical psychologist.

Campbell Toler is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing a Psychology major with a minor in Spanish. She volunteers as a research assistant in the CREAR Lab and the Behavioral Medicine Research Group, and serves as a PantherWELL peer health educator. After completing her undergraduate degree, Campbell plans to apply to Clinical Psychology PhD programs with the goal of becoming a licensed clinical psychologist.

Senior majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Neuroscience; born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. Volunteers as an interpreter and plans to attend medical school.

Kmaura (she/they) is a senior pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience and certificates in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine and Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies. Aims for a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology to support higher-acuity mental health needs.

Born in Uruapan (1994). Fifth-semester Psychology student (UMSNH). Interested in active collaboration and empirical learning; aims to continue academic development in research.

Fourth-semester psychology student (UMSNH, Uruapan). Curious about cultures and research; enjoys volleyball, math, writing, reading, and art. Excited about this opportunity.

Psychology student (UMSNH, Uruapan). Wants to put theory into practice, understand risk/protective factors and daily contexts, and provide tools to those who need them.

Post-bacc researcher from India. B.A. in Psychology (University of Delhi, 2023). Interested in child development and family health; aims to pursue a master's in developmental psychology and study supportive parenting in Indian contexts.

Psychology student in Uruapan, Michoacán. Interested in neuropsychology and educational psychology; enjoys drawing and baking.

From Uruapan, Michoacán. Overcame personal challenges; now thriving as a Psychology student (with a technical background in puericulture) at the Uruapan campus.

From Uruapan (b. 2004). Fourth-semester Psychology student (UMSNH). Hopes to apply prior knowledge effectively and grow through hands-on research experience.

Mexican student from Uruapan, Michoacán. Fourth-semester student in the Faculty of Psychology (UMSNH, Unidad Profesional de Uruapan).

Psychologist focused on research and teaching, particularly statistical analysis and instrument design. Advocates inclusive, gender-informed education and explores how AI can enrich teaching while preserving critical thinking.

Historian and social anthropologist (UNAH, Honduras), researcher and social activist, part of the Feminist Research Unit of the Center for Women's Rights (CDM).

Examines factors that help adolescents—especially from minoritized backgrounds—thrive. Uses resilience and strengths-based approaches (daily diary, interviews, secondary data) to study contextual risks (discrimination, community violence, family stress) and incorporates biological markers (e.g., cortisol) and physiology (e.g., sleep). Also studies Black and Latina women's experiences with infertility.

Studies how social inequality (e.g., racism, poverty) shapes brain activity and immune function with consequences for mental and physical health, and how physiological states (e.g., inflammation) feed back to affect social perception—informing interventions that promote health equity.

Studies the impact of traumatic and adverse experiences on children's and adolescents' functioning and develops trauma-informed school programs and multi-tiered systems of support.