Hi! I am a first-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Colorado State University. My research interests broadly focus on adolescent mental health and increasing the accessibility of culturally informed interventions and treatments to bilingual families through community-based organizations. I am currently involved in a mindfulness-based trauma-sensitive yoga project with the AHEAD lab. 

In my free time, I am a long-distance runner and avid hiker. On a rainy day, you can find me at home playing board games, watching a movie with my husband, or chasing Cubbie, our exotic short-hair kitty, around the apartment.

Hi! My name is Naomi Barraza Castillo, and I am dedicated to researching risk and resilience factors in adolescents and immigrants who have experienced trauma. My future research will focus on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions and their impact on mental health outcomes. I am especially committed to helping people from historically minoritized and marginalized groups gain more access to mental health resources and bridging the gap between research and real-world support. 

Outside of research, I enjoy exercising, hiking, baking, and reading!

Hello! My name is Khu Hser and I am a senior in Human Development and Family Studies. I am interested in researching trauma in immigrants and minoritized communities who come from war and/or high-risk environments. My research interests focus on understanding the context of trauma and effective interventions and prevention strategies for my population of interests. I am currently the lab manager for the AHEAD lab!

In other areas, I am a very big hobbyist. I enjoy creating miniatures, crochet, playing video games, and reading! Although I enjoy rotting in my home, I also really love taking walks and exercising. 

Miles was our lab manager from 2023-2025. Miles will be attending the Marriage and Family Therapy program in Fall of 2025 at CSU.