People

UCSC Doctoral Students

 Ashlee Brown (Fall 2023 - present)

Primary Advisor: Dr. Courtney Bonam

Ashlee is a first-year PhD student working with Dr. Courtney Bonam. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2022 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. She is broadly interested in drawing on identity-conscious knowledge to reveal how oppression manifests in psychology

Jada Cheek (Spring 2022 - present)

Primary Advisor: Dr. Courtney Bonam

Jada's research interests include how discussions of racism are framed in contemporary United States culture and how these discussions contribute to the justification of anti-Black racism and impact Black Americans' psychological well-being. She also explores the various tenants of racial trauma and ways to employ culturally relevant tools that can help Black people heal from this trauma as a community.

Alix MacDonald (Winter 2023 - present)

Primary Advisor: Dr. Gina Langhout 

Alix's research interests are grounded in critical whiteness studies, which centers whiteness in order to disrupt dominant systems of knowledge, ways of knowing, and being. She is interested in the intersections of critical whiteness studies, intergenerational trauma, and intergenerational healing. As a White queer woman, she sees this research as working within her community to advance racial justice and healing. 


UCSC Undergraduate Honors Thesis Students

Dr. Bonam is not currently accepting applications for undergraduate honors thesis students.


Lab Manager & Research Assistant

Solana Segal (Spring 2023- present)


UCSC Undergraduate Research Assistants

Leni Gharib (Fall 2023 - present)

Olivia Baumann (Fall 2023- present) 

Alyssa Rito (Fall 2023- present)

Gabriella Lerman (Spring 2023- present) 

Maddy Brodeur (Spring 2023- present) 

Lab Alums

UCSC Undergraduate Research Assistants

Abigail Rosales, (2023 graduate) 

UIC ALUMS

UIC Doctoral Students

Brett Coleman, PhD (2016)

Caitlyn Yantis, PhD (2018)

Drexler James, PhD (2018)

Olivia Holmes, PhD (2018)

UIC Teaching Fellow & Lab Manager

Chyei Vinluan, PhD

UIC Honors Capstone Students

Enrique Ceppi, Merine Lucy Laura, Mathew, Elliot Perez, Zerbrina Valdespino, Rachel Harris, Chyei Vinluan, Gosia Warias

UIC Undergraduate Research Assistants

Enrique Ceppi, Jillian Cernok, Crystal Hernandez, Merine Lucy, Laura Mathew, Elliot Perez, Sheena Patel, Maram Jafar, Jenn Geiman, Jasmine Anders, Kate McGovern, Shira Marcus, Kaitlyn VanBeveren, Luis Disotuar, Betsy Hercher, Kenia Cruz, Precilla Fajardo, Maribel Gallardo, Anthony Moreschi