Meet the DREAM Team

Blanca is the lab coordinator for the DREAM Lab and an alumna of Case Western Reserve University. Blanca's primary interested in the discriminate impact of mental illness within the Latino/a/x/e community and in the development of community-based interventions aimed at addressing negative mental health symptoms within this population. She is enthusiastic about exploring methods to implement strengths-based interventions to better serve ethnic and racial minority communities, with the goal of fostering a more inclusive field.

Fun fact: I won a padel tournament when I was a teenager!

Email: bvg5454@psu.edu

Emelyn is the coordinator for the RAÍCES project. Emelyn graduated with Honors from Hunter College CUNY, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Spanish. Her main research interests focus on multi-informant reporting, the parent-child relationship and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in racial/ethnic minority adolescents. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the future.

Fun fact: I have visited 6 different countries and have lived in 3 different states!

Srushti is a first-year Ph.D. student in Child Clinical Psychology at Penn State University. Her research focuses on creating brief, scalable, and culturally adapted (and visually engaging!) digital interventions to help youth and families recognize and combat identity-based stressors, particularly for Asian Americans. Additionally, she is interested in understanding the nuanced relationship between the experiences of marginalized youth with intersectional identities and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors within the minority-stress framework.

Fun fact: I’ve grown up in 7 states and 2 countries!

Email: ssu5041@psu.edu

Onyinye is a second-year Ph.D. student in Child Clinical Psychology at Penn State University. Her research focuses on understanding the environmental stressors—such as poverty, community violence, and racial trauma—that contribute to the vulnerability of Black youth to psychopathology. She is particularly interested in identifying culturally salient resilience factors, such as racial identity and supportive family structures, that buffer against these adverse effects. She aims to integrate developmental and clinical science to inform strength-based interventions that promote mental health and well-being in underserved communities. Through her research, she aims to address racial disparities in mental health and create environments where Black youth can thrive.

Fun fact: I skydived from 18,000 feet!

Email: oio5079@psu.edu

Sherille is a third-year doctoral student in Child Clinical Psychology at Pennsylvania State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Howard University and her master's degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pepperdine University. She is interested in studying the intergenerational transmission of trauma and examining how early life adversities can contribute to youth psychopathology and maladjustment in diverse communities and foster care youth. Furthermore, Sherille is interested in influencing public policy through the dissemination of research and strategic stakeholder engagement.

Fun fact: I have a new dog named Edna Mode!

Email: skb6510@psu.edu

Zaharah is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program.

Fun fact: I played violin for 15 years and now am learning guitar!

Adrelys is a first-year Clinical Science Ph.D. student. Her research interests broadly focus on understanding the developmental consequences of early adversity in minoritized youth and families. Adrelys is particularly interested in assessing the impact of community violence exposure and racial discrimination-related chronic stress on Black and Latinx children’s behavior, emotions, and mental health. She also hopes to elucidate personal, community, and contextual protective factors that can help inform more accessible and contextually relevant interventions for traditionally marginalized youth.

Email: amateosa@usc.edu

Twitter: @MateoAdrelys

Simone is a junior majoring in psychology, with a minor in neuroscience. She hopes to do more research related to neurological disorders, as well as research in trauma and resilience in minority populations. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, she hopes to attend graduate school to become a clinical psychologist.

Fun fact: My favorite place that I have visited is Greece!

Email: sxw5840@psu.edu

Kennedy is a senior majoring in Biology. After graduation she hopes to attend medical school. As a physician, she wants to provide impactful experiences through research and treatment. She joined the DREAM lab to gain experience with understanding the relationship between mental health and racial inequalities. By doing so she hopes to instill confidence within communities of color through outreach and education.

Fun fact: I'm a big ice hockey and my favorite NHL team is the New York Islanders!

Email: kfp5384@psu.edu

Angiemarit (Angie) is a second-year master’s student in the Applied Clinical Psychology program at Penn State -Harrisburg. She earned her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State Harrisburg. Angie works as a Behavioral Health Technician, interns at an outpatient clinic, and serves as Secretary of The Applied Psychology Association at Penn State Harrisburg. Her interests focus on minority mental health and culturally informed clinical practice.

Fun fact: I love going to concerts and festivals!

Email: afg5467@psu.edu

Si Hyun is a recent graduate of the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) at the University of Chicago, where she concentrated in Psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Yonsei University in South Korea. Having spent her childhood as a Korean immigrant in China, she wanted to build a career that supports individuals facing marginalization, and to make a meaningful impact in their lives. Her academic and research experiences have focused on addressing health disparities, improving mental and behavioral health among immigrant, refugee, and Asian American communities, and advancing community-engaged research partnerships. She is passionate about contributing to the field by developing culturally grounded interventions that can be implemented in community settings to foster resilience.

Fun fact: I run a baking Instagram account :)

Kritisha Agrawal is a freshman in the Schreyer Honors College at The Pennsylvania State University, majoring in Pre-Medicine. She is a student researcher with publications in neuroscience, where her work reflects her interest in connecting science, public health, and patient care. Kritisha plans to attend medical school and hopes to bridge the gap between patients and providers by ensuring that healthcare is centered on compassion, equity, and empowerment.

Her passion extends to advocacy, particularly in advancing women’s health. Through leadership roles and advocacy work, Kritisha challenges stigmas, amplifies underrepresented voices, and promotes patient-centered care. She also uses writing as a tool for reform, highlighting systemic issues and reframing healthcare around dignity and accessibility.

By combining research, advocacy, and communication, Kritisha seeks to use her voice to improve healthcare practices and outcomes. Outside her academic and advocacy work, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading and being with friends and family.

Fun fact: I have been surrounded by a herd of bison at Yellowstone National Park!

Email: kka5645@psu.edu