Pronouns: She/Her/Ella

Hometown: Born in Mexico City, Mexico, and raised in the western suburbs (Glendale Heights, IL) of Chicago at age 6. 

Education: Dr. López Hernández is a developmental scholar and assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago. She received her doctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles, in Human Development and Psychology.

Research interests: Her research focuses on understanding the experiences of immigrant-origin adolescents and how they develop a sense of belonging within their families, schools, and communities. Her work explores how social, cultural, and policy-related factors shape young people’s identity, well-being, and feelings of inclusion. Core questions that motivate her research plan include:

• How do immigration experiences (e.g., being in an undocumented household) shape adolescents’ social-emotional development and social belonging?

• How do oppressive immigration policies, laws, and toxic rhetoric impact immigrant-origin adolescents’ social belonging (or exclusion) in communities with recent demographic changes?

• What factors predict resilience in the context of racial injustice, racism, and xenophobia for immigrant-origin children and adolescents?

Hobbies: Some of her hobbies are baking and cooking new recipes, playing with her two little boys and exploring new neighborhoods in the city of Chicago.

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Education: B.S. in Psychology and Criminal Justice & Criminology (Loyola University Chicago 2020)

Current Status: 4th year PhD Student and Graduate Assistant 

Research Interests: I'm interested in studying self-regulation, socioemotional development, and positive & adverse childhood experiences in parents and children from immigrant backgrounds. I'm also interested in studying the extent to which parents' experiences influence their children's social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development.

Hobbies: Listening to podcasts, reading, and baking!

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella

Hometown: Minooka, IL

Education: B.S. in Psychology, Minors in Women and Gender Studies and Latin American Studies 

Current Status: 4th Year Undergraduate 

Research interests: She is interested in Adolescent Clinical Psychology and learning about the intersections of trauma, resilience, mental health, and anxiety in adolescents who are part of immigrant populations, ethnic minorities, or the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Hobbies: In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying coffee shops, singing, thrifting tutoring, playing the guitar, trying new foods, spending time with friends and family, and exploring the city of Chicago!

Goals: She chose Juntos because their research is incredibly personal, meaningful, and fascinating to her. As a Latina who grew up in the suburbs with Mexican immigrant parents, she wants to help understand others who have shared her experiences with belonging and discrimination and, through Juntos, help improve her understanding of how to enhance belonging, well-being, and support for Latine adolescents from immigrant backgrounds in predominantly white spaces. Her goal is to obtain a PhD in Clinical psychology and conduct research that examines trauma exposure in immigrants, refugees, and BIPOC adolescents, focusing on their effects and past experiences, and hopes to expand this research into policy-driven work.

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Mundelein, IL

Education: B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology 

Current status: 3rd Year Undergraduate 

Research interests: She is interested in developmental psychology focusing on the intersection between self esteem and mental health with adolescent immigrants. She also want to continue to bring awareness to mental health in hopes to further destigmatize the issue.  

Hobbies: She loves dancing, sitting by the lake, exploring Chicago, watching sporting events, movie nights, and shopping. 

Goals: Emily joined Juntos lab because she grew up in a community with dominantly Latinx immigrants. She had a lot of friends and classmates that struggled with fitting in with a predominantly white context. By doing this research, she hopes to gain more insight into their lives and struggles to create an equal environment. She also hopes to do clinical/patient work in the future, so by learning about people’s lives and experiences, she can advocate and support the wellbeing of immigrants.

Pronouns: He/Him

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Education: B.S. in Psychology

Current Status: Lab Coordinator 

Research Interests: His research interests lie at the intersection of developmental psychology, focusing on social belonging and identity development. He is also interested in understanding how these processes impact resilience and well-being in the face of discrimination and exclusion. Ultimately, he aims to explore how supportive environments can foster a sense of belonging and contribute to positive socio-emotional development in youth.

Hobbies: In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and collecting comic books. He also enjoys staying active and exploring the city with his friends.

Goals: Brian joined the Juntos Lab to explore the complexities of social belonging, identity development, and resilience in youth. His goal is to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology and eventually become a professor at a university, where he aims to conduct impactful research and foster the next generation of scholars dedicated to understanding social belonging and identity among adolescents.

Pronouns: She/her/ella 

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA 

Education: B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Professional Communications 

Current status: 3rd Year Undergraduate 

Research Interests: She is deeply interested in examining mental health and the sense of belonging within mixed-race households and immigrant communities. 

Hobbies: During her free time she loves doing pilates, meditating, and shopping. And if the weather permits, exploring  Chicago with friends. 

Goals: Alyssa joined the Juntos lab to contribute to its mission of understanding the “social belonging and identity formation process of immigrant-origin adolescents”. Through this work, she deepens her interest in how cultural identity, community, and mental health intersect within immigrant families. These experiences align closely with her long-term goal of becoming an immigration attorney, where she hopes to advocate for immigrant communities by addressing both the legal and human dimensions of migration. 

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Portage, IN

Current status: 4th year Undergraduate student

Education: B.S. in Psychology, Minors in Sociology and Spanish

Research Interests: Her research interests include examining the interaction between adolescents of immigrant backgrounds and their community dynamics and how this interaction can affect mental wellness. Along with this, she is interested in how these relationships may change depending on gendered differences across identities and cultural contexts.

Hobbies: In her spare time, she enjoys knitting and crocheting while watching movies, listening to music, walking near the lake, and spending time with friends and family!

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Aurora, IL

Education: B.S. in Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience and Biology on the Pre-Med track

Research interests:  She is interested in developmental and social psychology, with a particular interest in trauma and mental health within Hispanic communities. Her curiosity also extends to the psychological factors that contribute to addiction and substance abuse.

Hobbies: She loves spending time with her friends and family, trying new coffee shops and listening to music. She also enjoys going for runs along the lake front, hot yoga and weightlifting.

Goals: Lizzy joined Juntos Lab because their research resonates with her own experiences. As a first-generation student raised in a predominantly white community by Salvadorian immigrant parents, she often felt stuck between two cultures, and it is a difficult journey to navigate. She believes this lived experience is invaluable when studying the experiences of immigrant-origin youth. Through her work with Juntos, her goal is to support others who share similar struggles with belonging and contribute to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota 

Education: B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Music

Research interests: Adolescent Clinical Psychology, Pediatric Clinical Psychology, Immigrant Origin Adolescence, Health & Wellbeing in Adolescence, Mental Health in Adolescence, Adolescent Development

Hobbies: She loves to play music, listen to music, read, be outside, write, hang out with friends and family, and explore new cities!

Goals: Fiona's goal is to get her PhD in clinical psychology working with primarily adolescence, as well as children. She wants to do counseling, research and maybe teaching down the road!

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Education: B.S. in Psychology

Research interests: She is interested in clinical psychology, psychopathology and psychiatry, particularly focusing on adolescents and children. 

Hobbies: She prefers to spend her time outdoors, whether that be going on a hike, a run, or simply walking. She also loves trying out new coffee shops and learning to cook new things. 

Goals: Itzel joined Juntos Lab because she wants to advocate for immigrant communities. While she grew up in an immigrant community, she noticed gaps and systemic exclusion that continuously harmed her community without their even knowing. She aims to help others understand the unique experiences of immigrant origin youth and what they need to succeed. She hopes to foster a safe and welcoming environment to all, and learn to better engage and communicate in sensitive topics.

Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Education: B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology, Minor in Philosophy

Research Interests: She is interested in clinical psychopathology of adolescents, specifically in understanding emotional processing/regulation and resilience. She is also interested in creating more diverse and culturally conscious methods of treating and diagnosing mental disorders. 

Hobbies: She loves anything music or fashion related and in her free time, she likes to read, hike, bake, and explore Chicago with my friends. 

Goals: Dawnbe joined the Juntos Lab after taking developmental psychology under Dr. Lopez Hernandez. As a Korean American woman who grew up in a predominantly white area, she has experienced the struggle with sense of belonging and social acceptance. Her goal is to better understand ways to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of immigrant-origin adolescents and create more spaces for dialogue and support in the community.