Mentorship & Teaching

My mentorship approach speaks truthfully about the systemic and contextual barriers minoritized scholars face, while also amplifying the strengths and value they uniquely bring that will ultimately transform our field in needed ways.

I have mentored a number of undergraduate students independently through assistance on my research projects, as well as through structured research programs such as UCLA’s Psychology Research Opportunities Programs (PROPS), Honors Thesis Program, Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP), and the California State University Sally Casanova Scholars Program.

Meet these brilliant rising stars!

  • Eman Magzoub

    2020-2023

    Role: Research Assistant and PROPS Student

    Current: Special Project Coordinator, UCLA Screening & Treatment for Anxiety & Depression (STAND)/Depression Grand Challenge (DGC)

  • Karli Cheng

    2020-2022

    Role: Research Assistant and CSU Sally Casanova Scholar

    Current: Clinical Research Coordinator, Phoenix Children’s Hospital

  • Qasim Farrukh

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Recently Graduated

  • Mia Flores

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Recently Graduated

  • Brissa Bejarano

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Recently Graduated

  • Erica Jones

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant and PROPS Student

    Current: Master’s in Social Work, Columbia University

  • Topaz Tabibi

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Clinical Psychology PsyD, Alliant International University

  • Namrata Poola

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: UCI Post-Baccalaureate Program in Psychological Science

  • Xuanyao (Clark) Qian

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Recently Graduated

  • Qiran (Cheryl) Sun

    2022-2024

    Role: Research Assistant and Honors Thesis Student

    Current: Research Coordinator, UCLA Cognition, Affect, and Neurodevelopment in Youth Lab

  • Sebastian Luque

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Behavioral Interventionist, Asteri Behavioral Treatment Center

  • Leila Malak

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant 

    Current: Harvard Law School

  • Kenya Rodriguez

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Service Coordinator, Alta California Regional Center

  • Alyssa De Los Santos

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant and PROPS Student

    Current: Master’s in Social Work, CSU Fullerton

  • Ana Berman

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Research Coordinator, UCLA TIES for Families

  • Xinran (Wendy) Wang

    2020-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Cognitive Science in Context PhD, Vanderbilt University

  • Adriana Perez

    2020-2023

    Role: Research Assistant and PROPS Student

    Current: Master’s in Clinical Psychology, CSU Northridge

  • Qiwen Jin

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, University of Pennsylvania

  • Umiemah Farrukh

    2022-2023

    Role: Research Assistant

    Current: Master’s Student, Columbia University

  • Dylan Aguirre

    2020-2023

    Role: Research Assistant and URSP Student

    Current: Lecturer, CSU Los Angeles; Master’s in Clinical Psychology, CSU Northridge (Graduated 2024)

  • Michelle Real

    2018-2019

    Role: PROPS Student

    Current: Master’s in School Psychology, CSU Long Beach

  • Austin Saephan

    2019-2022

    Role: PROPS Student

    Current: Master’s in Social Welfare, UCLA

Teaching Philosophy

Shaped by my personal experiences, I view education as a pathway to social movement by facilitating transformative experiences through which students are empowered to interrogate and enact change in the systems that shape their lives and society. I am committed to inclusive, culturally responsive learning practices that center intersectional identities, diverse voices, and minoritized perspectives in the classroom. 

Examples of classes I can teach include:

  • Clinical Psychology

  • Cultural Psychology

  • Research Methods in Psychology

  • Asian American Mental Health & Wellness

Learn more about my philosophy on diversity.