Lab Members

Lab Director

Dr. Ella Ben Hagai

Ella Ben Hagai is Associate Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton. Trained in Psychology and Anthropology, her research focuses on processes that lead individuals’ who are members of different social groups (e.g., class, ethnic, religious) to develop a shared political consciousness that supports equal distribution of resources across groups. She studies these processes in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as conflict over neoliberal policies in different parts of the globe. Her theoretical work examines the intersections between trans* and queer theory and recent psychological research on gender and sexuality. Before joining CSUF, she was a faculty member at Bennington College. She received her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Cruz and holds a Master in Anthropology from the London School of Economics.

Lab Manager

Aliahna Vanguardia

Email: liaysbl@csu.fullerton.edu, aliahna.v@outlook.com

Aliahna is the current lab manager for the Intersectional Consciousness Lab. She is currently leading a project that examines how masculinity endorsement and insecurity predicts political behaviors. She graduated in Spring 2025, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Criminal Justice. Her main research interests are Asian-American psychology, prejudice and discrimination, and decision-making. She aims to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Project Leads

Vanessa Velazquez

Email: vanessavelazquez@csu.fullerton.edu

Vanessa is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. She is interested in examining the direct and indirect effects of climate change in communities that are most exposed to and affected by climate change disasters. Vanessa will graduate from CSU Fullerton Spring of 2026 majoring in both Psychology and Public Health. She aims to pursue a Ph.D. in Social/Community Psychology and is interested in exploring how communities' mental health, behaviors, and environmental impacts are affected by the increase of climate change.

Skylar Randle

Email: skylarprandle@csu.fullerton.edu

Skylar is a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars program. She currently leads a project on media sexualization and stereotypes of Black women. Skylar will graduate from CSU Fullerton in Spring 2026, majoring in both Psychology and African American Studies and minoring in American Studies. She aims to pursue a Ph.D. in Social Psychology or African American Studies with an interest in the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality on the interpersonal relationships of intergroup relations involving the Black community.

Joseph Provost

Victoria Hains

Email: VHains@csu.fullerton.edu

Victoria is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program, with interests in both mixed-methods research and therapeutic practice. She is currently conducting thesis research on stress, trauma, and emotion regulation. In the future, Victoria hopes to focus her clinical work on creating affirming therapeutic environments for individuals who present as and/or experience themselves as feminine, and who identify as neurodivergent and/or as gender and sexual minorities.

Emily Fox

Brandin Ali

Research Assistants

Laura Lorenzana

Nico Vazquez

Paul Alexander Tablada

Noelle Holmes

Gerald Johnson

Austin Williams

Paris Quintero

Cindy Cabuguason

Rodon McKissack

Megan Louie

Alumni

Lab Staff Alumni

Paulina Ortega

Lab Manager: 2023-2025

Research Assistant: 2022-2023

Email: portega01@csu.fullerton.edu; portega0123@gmail.com

Paulina worked as the lab manager from 2023-2025, leading the study Understanding History and Solutions to Conflict, and her independent project Understanding Emerging Adult Latina Women's Perceptions of Mental Health. She graduated from CSU Fullerton during the fall of 2024, majoring in Psychology as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program and a Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar. Paulina aims to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an interest in strength-based and community-based research. As of 2025, she is working as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the CALM Program at UC Berkeley. During her free time, Paulina enjoys reading, hiking, and listening to music.

Project Lead Alumni

Sebastian Lopez-Padilla

Email: sebastianlopez_14@csu.fullerton.edu

Sebastian was a research assistant and led the project A Comparative Study: Understanding the College Experience from the Eyes of Latinx and White Undergraduate Students while assisting on other projects. He graduated from CSU Fullerton in 2024, majoring in Psychology and minoring in African American Studies as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program and a Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar. Sebastian was admitted in the Fall 2025 to the Department of Education, Gevirtz Graduate School of Education for a PhD in Education -- GGSE (EDUC) and an MA in Education -- GGSE (EDUC) at the University of California, Santa Barbara. During his free time, he enjoys trying new restaurants, playing soccer, and going to the beach.

Email: gammari@csu.fullerton.edu

Georget was an undergraduate research assistant, as well as a Ronald E. McNair and Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar. She managed a project investigating Gen Z LGBTQ+ coming out experiences while focusing her thesis on the use of social media within participants' identity development. Georget graduated from CSU Fullerton in Spring 2025, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Adolescent Development. She aims to pursue a Ph.D. in Social Psychology/Communications and is interested in investigating social media’s role in identity, community, and attitude development amongst diverse youth. Outside of the lab, Georget likes to crotchet, read, and participate in her sword fighting club.

Research Assistant Alumni

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