I am a Ph.D candidate in the cognitive neuroscience program at Saint Louis University and I focus on equity and representation in stress research.  My thesis study looked at structural barriers to inclusion in hair cortisol research specifically highlighting the voices of the Black and Latinx communities and representing issues that members of these groups may face. Through this work I created culturally adaptive hair collection protocol that was developed with community advisors and tested within a sample of the Black and Latinx community. 

Additionally, I am a member of both the Autistic and LGBT+ community and have participated in over a decade of community activism here in St. Louis. As a co-founder of the GAP initiative for 3 years I facilitated and hosted trainings in local bars that taught about gender based violence and assault commonly perpetrated against the LGBT+ community. In addition to this work I have volunteered for an organization within the community supporting transgender and queer youth. Within this role I have helped plan and host activities uniting queer and transgender youth and their families. 

In addition to my community work I have also done research supporting both autistic and transgender adults. I presented at the 2nd International Trans Studies Conference in 2024 a presentation titled “Decoding the Link: Neurodivergence, Dissociation, and Self-Harm Among the Trans Community." My goal in all the work that I do is to use my relative access to power and authority as an academic researcher to highlight the voices of groups routinely overlooked and underrepresented in research. I aim to promote support and community through every outlet I have. 

I am a licensed professional counselor, an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Saint Louis University, and active contributor to the Transgender Health Collaborative, and the principal investigator of the Social Determinants and Minority Stress Lab at Saint Louis University. I have been active in the field of LGTBQIA+ mental health since I began my doctoral career in 2017, training mental health and medical providers across the country to provide trans-affirmative care. I am a member of both nonbinary and neurodivergent communities. The majority of my research focuses on the intersection of racial and gender identity minority stress for transgender and nonbinary adults, social determinants of health for marginalized communities, transgender health and gender dysphoria, and neurodivergency. My lab includes members of both the LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communiteis and works with people of marginalized genders and sexualities, the BIPOC community, and neurodivergent adults. 

Dr. Buchanan's research focuses on the intersection between stress and behavior. Dr. Buchanan's work has focused on the role that stress plays in memory, language, and decision making.

Dr. Buchanan's work has been funded by the Templeton Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Center for Responsible Gaming, and the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression.

He received his Ph.D. in Biological Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and went on to a postdoctoral fellowship in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Iowa. He is currently Professor of Psychology and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Program at Saint Louis University.

My name is Alexandria Butler and I am a junior at SLU majoring in Psychology on the pre-med track. Identifying as queer myself, I want to support those in my community with the resources they deserve to utilize. My promise is to always work towards progress and improvement. My research goal right now is to learn about how to provide accurate and holistic treatment to those who have experienced trauma. My focus is to help individuals grow through the struggle without it overtaking them. My promise to you is that I will protect and continue to support our community! 

My name is Damara Stevens and I am currently a junior at Saint Louis University studying Neuroscience with minors in Spanish and Urban Poverty Studies. I have many close family members and friends who struggle with mental health. I have witnessed many battles against depression, particularly self-harm and how it can take control and interfere with one’s life. Additionally, I have many friends in the transgender community who have shared about their experiences with mental health, especially the lack of resources and support provided to their community. I want to raise awareness of mental health struggles, especially those prevalent in the transgender community. Many of these struggles are also overlooked in the medical field so I want to be part of the change for a more supportive and inclusive future. 

While pursuing a psychological science degree at Webster University, I developed a strong passion for understanding the effects of stress and trauma on psychological and physiological health. This interest motivated me to design my thesis project which analyzed the influence of alcohol use on recovery from an acute stressor. I aim to foster spaces of belonging, and celebrate diverse identities. Above all, I hope to ensure that the LGBTQ+ and transgender community are met with affirmation and acceptance in any project that I work on.