Yena Li (2021)

Yena graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Smith College in 2021. She is currently a third-year student in Fordham University's School Psychology Program, with a concentration on Bilingual Psychology. During college, she was a part of the research team of the article "Identified protective factors to support psychological well-being among gender diverse autistic youth", and went to NASP 2022 in Boston to present this study with the principal investigator, Scott Greenspan. Yena's primary research interest includes the protective and risk factors of emotional disorders (such as depression, anxiety, and suicide-related behavior or ideation) of adolescents in middle and high school, in particular Chinese people born and raised in China and Chinese international students in America. She is currently investigating the lived experience of current Chinese college students who self-perceived as underperforming in Gaokao (a high-stakes National College Entrance Exam) but were still able to enroll in top-tier Colleges. In her free time, Yena loves to spend time with her cat, Adagio, and hamster, Bae. She is the bass player of a band called "Hang Him To the Scales”, and takes piano lessons in the evening division at Juilliard. 

Sarah Kinane (2021)

Sarah Kinane is a third-year student in Fordham University's Counseling Psychology Program, having received her Master's degree in August 2023. Her primary research focus explores hapa (half-Asian, half-white) identity development and the sociocontextual factors that impact that process. She is currently exploring the phenomenological experiences and perspective of white-passing hapa cisgender heterosexual college students who attend predominantly White institutions regarding their gendered racial identity negotiations. As a hapa person, she hopes this research will broaden the current conceptualization of biracial identity models and inform the development of tailored mental health interventions for hapa individuals. Sarah utilizes an equity, social justice, and emancipatory framework in her clinical, research, and advocacy capacities.

Alyssa Choi (2022)

Alyssa graduated with a B.S. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2022 where she started research with the UIUC Learning and Language Lab with Eye Tracking. ELAN transcription, and conducted research to study the role of text exposure on self-paced reading. Alyssa also became a part of the Culture, Heritage, and Racial Identity (CHRI) Lab where she conducted virtual interviews to assess service utilization and social identity models in college students. Alyssa was part of the Gameful Pedagogy team, which applied the "Gamer's Bill of Rights" to create a healthy and inclusive course syllabi template for the UIUC faculty and students. Alyssa's research will address the needs of the LGBTQ+ Korean American community and their intersectional identities. Alyssa was inspired by Fordham’s dedication to multicultural competence and social justice, which aligned with her own goals as a researcher and aspiring counselor. In her free time, she loves to take care of her plants, scope out the best cafes for iced oat milk lattes, read autobiographies, and take intentional, mindful naps for self-care.

Jocelyn Kim (2022)

Jocelyn is a third-year Counseling Psychology PhD student. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Public Health. While living in Baltimore, she became engaged in multiple nonprofit programs and learned about the power communities had in tackling systemic issues and their trickle effects. These experiences sparked a passion for social justice and community strength-based approaches. After graduation, she worked at the Horga Lab for three years, exploring the neural mechanisms of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia and at high risk for psychosis. Her research interests include exploring the Asian-American identity and how its intersection may play a role in factors associated with depression and anxiety such as help-seeking, resilience, burn-out, and self-stigma. 

Nina Shen (2022)

Nina Shen is a second-year Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Fordham University. She received her Master's in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College in 2021 and completed her Master's internship at the MassBay Community College Counseling Center. Currently, she is at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Adult Inpatient unit for her doctoral externship. Her research interests include examining the intersections of racial/ethnic identities, gender, and trauma among historically underserved groups. Her current research explores the influences of the Covid-19 pandemic on Asian American college students' friendships and romantic relationships.

Marguerite Shashoua (2023)

Marguerite Shashoua received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Fordham Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and her B.S. in Psychology from Vanderbilt University.  After college, she worked for several years at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University on a clinical trial for treatment-resistant depression in adolescents and a longitudinal study for children and adolescents living with pediatric bipolar disorder. While at Fordham’s Clinical Psychology program, she wrote two book chapters on self-injurious behaviors. Her master’s thesis examined the association between early maladaptive schemas associated with non-suicidal self-injury and childhood emotional abuse. After her master's, she continued doing research related to transracial Korean adoptees, exploring their conceptions of family and coming age. Her current research interests include exploring the effects of attachment trauma in childhood, including adoption.  Clinically, she wants to learn more about relationally-focused, trauma-informed interventions and gain practical therapeutic skills that facilitate personal growth and resilience. In her spare time, Marguerite enjoys listening to audiobooks, cooking foods from different cultures, and baking recipes with interesting ingredients.

Alli Park (2024)

Alli graduated from Barnard College with a B.A. in psychology in 2023 and is a first-year student in the counseling psychology program. Before coming to Fordham, she worked at a maternal health lab at the University of California, Irvine, where her research focused on childhood trauma and the protective effect of social support on the metabolic health of pregnant people. She also interned at an Asian American-serving community mental health organization, which sparked her interest in studying race-based traumatic stress and improving the accessibility of mental health care among AANHPI. Alli’s current research and clinical interests include Asian/Asian Americans’ experiences of stress, particularly as they relate to racialization; Asian American well-being; and culturally-informed stress and depression interventions. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, baking, visiting art museums, and going on very long walks. 

Yuka Hayashi (2024)

Yuka is a first-year Ph.D. student in Counseling Psychology at Fordham University. She received her M.A. in Mental Health Counseling (2024) and B.A. in Applied Psychology & Human Development (2022) from Boston College. While in Boston, Yuka researched the pregnancy and childbirth experiences of Asian American transracial/transnational adoptees with Dr. Oh Myo Kim and interned at Children’s Services of Roxbury, where she provided in-home therapy to BIPOC youth and families. Her involvement with community-based organizations in Japan and the U.S. further fueled her passion for mentorship, activism, and education. Yuka’s research and clinical interests center on intergenerational trauma, family dynamics, and systemic oppression within marginalized communities. She is dedicated to delivering culturally responsive, socially just interventions that foster connectedness, healing, and growth. Her work is driven by a commitment to breaking down barriers to mental health care, especially for Asian/Asian American individuals, informed by her experiences as a Japanese woman navigating identity, culture, and social injustice. Outside of school, Yuka enjoys spending time with friends, going on walks, and thrifting clothes.

Aysegul Yucel (2024)

Aysegul is a first-year Ph.D. student in Counseling Psychology at Fordham University. She holds

master’s degrees in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, and

Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Aysegul has taken part in

research studies on the mental health of marginalized communities, with a focus on sexual and racial minorities, at Teachers College and NYU Steinhardt. Clinically, her interests include addressing depression, anxiety, and suicide among young adults. Her master’s thesis at John Jay College examined the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and suicidal ideation among college students. Currently, Aysegul’s research focuses on the mental health outcomes of

international students in the U.S. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, taking long walks,

and exploring new coffee shops and restaurants.

Haruka Kokaze

Haruka Kokaze is a workplace mental health research associate and lead Japan strategy analyst at Columbia University's Mental Health + Work Design Lab, a heartfulness fellow at Stanford School of Medicine, and a multidisciplinary addiction training scholar at NYU Langone Health. Growing up in Kobe, Tokyo, New York, Houston, and London due to her father's job assignments, Haruka's commitment to mental health is deeply rooted in her personal experiences witnessing the mental health crisis unfold within her communities. As a social justice advocate, she strives to bridge the gap between research,

practice, and the needs of underserved communities through community-oriented projects. Notable among these initiatives

are her contributions to the U.S.-Japan Council’s "Leadership Addressing Anti-Asian Hate" breakout session at the 2023

Annual Conference in Washington D.C., the "Leadership and Mental Wellness" breakout session at the 2022 Annual Conference in Tokyo. Elevating her social justice advocacy to a national level, Haruka spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad’s annual convention in Japan, which took place in the presence of Their

Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino. Recognized for her impact on Japanese community mental health, Haruka has received multiple recognitions, including funding from the Japanese Medical Society of America in 2024, the Japanese American Association of New York in 2023, and the Young Alumni Changemaker Award from The American School in Japan. She earned her B.S. in Applied Psychology and M.A. in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University in 2024. Haruka aspires to become a transnational, bilingual psychologist advocating for culturally relevant mental health care for Japanese and Japanese American communities.

Meera Aladin (2017)

Meera Aladin, MSEd is a PhD Candidate in Counseling Psychology at Fordham University. She has received clinical training across a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient hospitals, community mental health centers, and VA medical centers. She is passionate about working with immigrant populations in New York City and has worked with individuals who experience acculturative stress, attachment-related difficulties, complex trauma, identity issues, and life transitions. She has contributed to research on topics related to the effects of ethnic/racial discrimination on youth’s socioemotional functioning and academic engagement, and the intersections of culture, social identities, and chronic health illnesses in South Asian American populations. Her dissertation study is a qualitative, phenomenological inquiry, exploring the lived experiences of South Asian American women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. She is completing her doctoral internship in Clinical Psychology at Lenox Hill Hospital. 

James Park (2017)

James is a licensed clinical psychologist and Captain in the United States Army. He earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University in 2022. He completed his internship and post-doctoral training at Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Liberty, NC. Currently, he serves as a Behavioral Health Officer for 21st Signal Brigade in USASA Camp Roberts, CA. Additional responsibilities include providing psychological evaluation, clinical care, and consultation to proximal units such as the Defense Language Institute in Presidio of Monterey, CA, the Naval Postgraduate School, California National Guard, and US Army Reserve. His research interest is primarily on the experiences of Asian American service members in the United States Armed Forces. This was also the focus of his dissertation. Outside of professional work, he enjoys spending time with family, golf, and cooking. 

Xinyi (Stacy) Wang (2018)

Stacy identifies as a Chinese cis-gender female and is currently living in the Bay Area. She recently completed the postdoctoral fellowship in Pain Psychology at Pain Management Clinic, San Mateo Medical Center, and will join the Pain Management Center as a pain psychologist at UCSF Health in December 2024. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Stanford University, CAPS, and graduated from the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at Fordham University in 2023. Her research interest focuses on the professional quality of life for mental health providers. Her clinical interests include health psychology, trauma, and working with artists and new immigrants.

Hannah Wing (2018)

Hannah Wing earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University in 2024. As part of her clinical training, she has provided individual, group, and couples therapy to diverse populations across various settings: Veterans Administration facilities, a neuropsychology hospital department, college counseling, and a community mental health center. She completed her pre-doctoral psychology internship at the Manhattan VA, and has returned as a Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow to specialize in evidence-based, trauma-focused treatments and couples therapy. Her publications explore the identity development, racial and cultural socialization, and microaggression experiences of marginalized individuals, including people of color and Asian transracial adoptees. Her dissertation was a phenomenological qualitative study that explored female Chinese transracial adoptees’ experiences of and attitudes toward family, romantic relationships, and parenthood. She also currently serves as Vice President and formerly as the Virtual Events Committee Lead for a non-profit organization, Chinese Adoptee Alliance, that serves the greater Chinese adoptee and global community of adoptees and allies. 

Xinran (Gloria) Guo (2022)

Xinran (Gloria) received her MSEd in School Counseling from Fordham Graduate School of Education and her B.A in German from East China University of Science and Technology. She completed her Master’s Internship at Flushing International High School and Lower Manhattan Community Middle School. Her current research interests center on resilience, coping, and risk and protective factors affecting the emotional well-being of Chinese adolescents, Chinese immigrant youth, and Chinese international students. Currently, she is involved in a study about Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) among Chinese Adolescents. Clinically, as a bilingual and international student, she is passionate about elevating immigrant youth’s mental health by providing culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate interventions. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching soccer games, exploring new movies, and practicing yoga.

Samantha is a senior at Bergen County Technical High School - Teterboro. She is in the Digital Media Major and hopes to study psychology in college. She is interested in the study of the mind, behavior, and human growth; specifically, characteristics that shape a person’s healthy transition from childhood to adulthood given the changing environment in society.