{"id":47,"date":"2018-08-25T02:29:54","date_gmt":"2018-08-25T02:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/?page_id=47"},"modified":"2026-01-29T03:01:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T03:01:41","slug":"meet-our-lab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/?page_id=47","title":{"rendered":"Current Lab Members"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Adriana Espinosa <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Principal Investigator\/Lab Director<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
The City College of New York and The Graduate Center, CUNY<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Espinosa is an Associate Professor in the department of psychology at The City College of New York. She is doctoral faculty within the Health Psychology and Clinical Science training area of the Department of Psychology at the Graduate Center, CUNY. Her research employs life-course and intersectional frameworks to understand disparities in healthcare access, health behaviors and health outcomes among racial\/ethnically minoritized populations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Nishanthi Anthonipillai<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | Doctoral Alum<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Clinical Psychology, The City College of New York<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Nishanthi holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the City College of New York. She received her bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Theater from The College of the Holy Cross, and a master’s degree in General Psychology from City College of New York. She has worked as a Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator for the City College of New York, where she created programming to reduce the prevalence and incidence of substance misuse among commuter college students. Her research interests include intersectional identities and mental health outcomes, the interplay between culture and emotion regulation, and how emotional regulation is similar and different among multi-lingual individuals across their languages. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Zara Khan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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she\/her\/hers | Doctoral Candidate<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Health Psychology & Clinical Science, The Graduate Center, CUNY<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Zara received her B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Quinnipiac University, where she developed an early passion for promoting and maintaining overall well-being. She has worked as a research coordinator in the Pulmonary Unit at the Yale School of Medicine, leading a pilot study that examined associations between pro-inflammatory markers and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a cohort with a rare lung disease. Her research interests include psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness, women\u2019s sexual health, barriers to treatment, and health behavior change. She is currently spearheading two projects within the ARHAMP lab. The first project, The BINDAAS Study<\/em> (Bridging Identity, Norms, Disparities, and Adjustment Among South Asians), investigates the role of sociocultural factors in shaping mental health outcomes among South Asian college students. Her dissertation adopts a biopsychosocial framework to examine the complex relationship between chronic pelvic pain (CPP), sexual coercion, and psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A secondary aim of her dissertation is to identify barriers to help-seeking behaviors that may exacerbate CPP and psychological symptoms. Through her work, Zara strives to address health disparities by bridging the gap between physical and psychological health in underrepresented populations and informing effective, tailored interventions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Wynta Alexander<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | 3rd Year Doctoral Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Health Psychology & Clinical Science, The Graduate Center, CUNY<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Wynta obtained her B.A. and M.A in Psychology from the City College of New York. She has worked in the ARHAMP lab for three years where previously she examined the differential impact of adverse childhood experiences on clinical outcomes among racial\/ethnic minoritized populations and presently is investigating the relationship between parental practices on adult health outcomes, with sex as a moderator among Black emerging adults. Her research interests include stressors over the life course, intersectionality, and racial\/ethnic minority health.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lukonde Mulenga <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | 3rd Year Doctoral Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Health Psychology & Clinical Science, The Graduate Center, CUNY<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Lukonde Mulenga is a two-time graduate of the University of Michigan, receiving her B.A. in Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience in 2016 and her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Behavior and Health Education, along with a Graduate Certificate in Global Health, in 2018. Afterwards, Lukonde  joined the Program for Research on Women\u2019s Health and Disability (PROWHD), part of the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of Michigan Medicine. As a member of PROWHD, she contributed to research on reproductive health, sexual wellness, and disability stigma. In her doctoral studies, Lukonde is interested in studying the sexual attitudes of Black and African women \u2013 both in the United States and Zambia \u2013 and examining how these attitudes impact current and future sexual health behaviors and relationships.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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James Dzera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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he\/him | 2nd Year Doctoral Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Health Psychology & Clinical Science Program, The Graduate Center, CUNY<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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James earned a BA in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from Villanova University in 2018 and an MA in Applied Psychology from Rutgers University in 2024. He has served as a research assistant in Dr. Adriene Beltz\u2019s lab at the University of Michigan and as a graduate research assistant in Dr. Angelo DiBello\u2019s lab at Rutgers, where he investigated predictors of alcohol use among college students. Currently, his research focuses on coping motives for substance use among minoritized populations, using community-based participatory methods to develop accessible interventions and reduce barriers to care.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Angela Simler<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1st Year Doctoral Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Health Psychology & Clinical Science Program, The Graduate Center, CUNY<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Angela received her post-baccalaureate studies in Psychology at the University of Washington. At the same institution, she worked as a Research Coordinator at Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, a large interdisciplinary group focused on the etiology and prevention of substance use and other co-occurring behaviors. She also served as a Research Assistant in the same department at the Program for Trauma Recovery and Resilience Innovations, contributing to projects aimed at preventing risky drinking and post-traumatic stress disorder following sexual assault. Her research interests focus on identifying risk factors associated with distress related to managing chronic illness, as well as protective factors that promote improved quality of life, health outcomes, and treatment adherence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Rosairi Estevez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | Master’s Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
BA\/MA Psychology Research Program<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Rosairi is a fourth year student in the dual bachelors and masters program in Psychology Research at The City College of New York. She currently works as a bilingual counselor at Crisis Text Line. Her research focuses on the impact of immigration and acculturation experiences among Latino student populations, along with their implications for mental health and educational outcomes. Rosairi’s research interests also include the study of sociocultural behaviors and assessing their impact on psychological and physical health literacy in ethnic minority populations.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lindsay Lebert<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | Master’s Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
BA\/MA Psychology Program, The City College of New York<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Lindsay is currently studying to earn her B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at The City College of New York. She also works as a Registered Behavior Technician at Manhattan Psychology Group. Her research concerns health behaviors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including preventive health behavior and alcohol consumption. Lindsay’s research examines the role of perceived discrimination, emotional self-efficacy, and trust in leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sabrina Perrin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | Master’s Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
General Psychology, The City College of New York<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sabrina is a third-year Master’s student and received a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminal Justice and a second Bachelor\u2019s degree in Psychology from Kent State University in 2021.  Currently, she works as a Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist at a non-profit that specializes in community corrections, substance use treatment, and other recovery support services.  Her research interests revolve around factors affecting substance use engagement outcomes among college students, including: stress, perceived social support, and motives for using substances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Kimberly Velazquez <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | Master’s Alum<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
General Psychology, The City College of New York<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Kimberly is a Master’s student in her final year and currently works at Columbia University as a Student Research Program Coordinator. She has worked at the intersections of healthcare and administrative sectors. Her research interests revolve around the in-depth exploration of crucial societal elements, encompassing a sense of community, depression, anxiety, and perceived discrimination. Kimberly is resolute in her mission to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in understanding and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in mental health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Rodayne Williams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

he\/him\/his | Master’s Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
General Psychology, The City College of New York <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Rodayne is a Master’s student and a graduate of Fisk University where he earned his B.A in Biology. As a Research Analyst, Rodayne has worked on studies examining the effect of numerous factors (e.g., sleep quality) on health outcomes in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His research interests include addiction and recovery, immigration, and how that impacts health choices and outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Caitlyn Willson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

she\/her\/hers | Master’s Student<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Mental Health Counseling, The City College of New York<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Caitlyn is a second-year master’s student in Mental Health Counseling at The City College of New York. She works in case management at a non-profit organization, supporting adults with severe mental health conditions and co-occurring substance use. Her research interests include trauma, childhood adversity, cultural influences on mental health, and mental health disparities in underserved communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Adriana Espinosa Principal Investigator\/Lab Director The City College of New York and The Graduate Center, CUNY Dr. Espinosa is an Associate Professor in the department of psychology at The City […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-47","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blog_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":"","full":""},"categories_names":null,"comments_number":"0","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47"}],"version-history":[{"count":145,"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1049,"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47\/revisions\/1049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arhamp.ccny.cuny.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}