Chenglin Hong is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Connecticut, and the Director of the SHIC lab. His research focuses on addressing health disparities among sexual and gender minorities through community-based participatory research and innovative approaches including eHealth, mHealth, and technology-based intervention and data science techniques.

Jie Zhao is a PhD student at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Her research focuses on the social determinants of population health and the development of evidence-based health promotion strategies, with particular attention to underserved communities. 

Isabella is a rising junior at the University of Connecticut, majoring in Psychological Sciences and minoring in Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research interests focus on healthcare stigma affecting LGBTQIA+ and Latinx populations and improving psychological treatments for marginalized communities.

Samiah is a rising junior at the University of Connecticut, majoring in Allied Health Sciences. Her research interests focus on HIV risk behaviors and substance use among marginalized populations, as well as reducing related stigmas to enhance access to care.

Tyler Fair is a first-year MSW at UConn also pursuing a Masters in Divinity at Yale Divinity School. He has worked in education, behavioral health, and professional caregiving. His qualitative research focuses on rural health disparities and LGBTQ-inclusion in hospice and palliative care. 

Calvin McKean is a UConn graduate student pursuing an MSW degree. He provides behavioral health support to youth populations during his advanced-year practicum. He completed his foundation-year placement at a shelter serving unhoused community members, where he previously worked as a supervisor. His research explores health disparities affecting LGBTQIA+ populations and seeks to promote equitable opportunities within society.

Patrick Muro is a PhD student in the School of Social Work at the University of Connecticut. His research focuses on improving the quality of care that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) through analyzing providers training and bias.

Madeline is a BSW student in the School of Social Work at the University of Connecticut. Her research interests focus on combining social work practices with Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies theories to improve the education of adolescents.

Kayla is a rising senior at the University of Connecticut, majoring in Allied Health Sciences with concentrations in Public Health and Health Promotion. Her passion for global health is deeply rooted in her upbringing as a Cameroonian native, where the burden of infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, and HIV remains significant.

Felipe Sanches (he/him/his) is a MPA student at the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy. He holds a BA in Political Science and BA in Latino & Latin American Studies from the University of Connecticut. His policy interests include LGBTQ+ policy and immigration policy. He has a research interest in DEI outcomes and how they can inform policies that support the LGBTQ+ community.