Araceli is a first-year Ph.D. student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville in the Counseling Psychology program. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, summa cum laude, from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). During her time at UTEP, she served as a Research Assistant in the Mental Health and Criminal Justice Lab and worked with the Border Biomedical Research Center, where she contributed to projects addressing health disparities and justice system inequities in Latinx and border communities.

Following her undergraduate training, Araceli worked as a Senior Research Analyst at the University of Miami’s Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health within the Equitable Implementation Science Core. In this role, she collaborated on projects focused on the equitable implementation of mental health interventions and HIV prevention, deepening her commitment to community-engaged research and advocacy.

Her research interests center on mental health equity, particularly in advancing culturally responsive interventions for Latinx youth and families. She is passionate about addressing stigma, health disparities, and systemic barriers that shape access to care. Grounded in her identity as a first-generation Latina scholar, Araceli aims to bridge research and advocacy efforts to improve mental health systems of care.

Araceli is a first-generation bicultural Latina who was born in El Paso, TX but lived in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico for 11 years. Outside of her academic life, Araceli loves to read for fun and immerse herself in art through pottery, painting, or visiting museums. She has three cats (Cardigan, Baby, and Weezy) and loves to spend time with them.

Shari Linares is a second-year graduate student at University of Tennessee in the Counseling Psychology program. Shari graduated with undergraduate Honors in Psychology in 2023 with minors in Sociology and Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness at Utah State University. She is currently a part of the THRIVE lab at UTK that focuses on improving access to mental health services, understanding mechanisms of resilience after trauma exposure, and leveraging community strengths to promote the well-being of marginalized youths and families. Shari’s main body of research focuses on the experiences people of color face and making space for these conversations, as well as advocating for these populations in academic and clinical spaces. In her research, she promotes healing from discrimination and racism through community and clinical efforts. She also is heavily involved in creating equitable spaces and practices for immigrant populations and both researching and implementing culturally competent work into clinical practice for clinicians and clients alike. 

Outside of her academic life, Shari loves to be out in the sun whether she be swimming, skiing, or discovering new places, cooking, frequenting coffee shops, or dancing in Zumba. Spending quality time with family and friends is very important to her.

Shari is a first-generation bicultural Latina who was born and raised in Logan Utah, with roots in Ecuador and Guatemala. Shari is very passionate about her work within psychology and is excited for what the future holds on this path.

Jimena Mendoza is a second-year PhD student in Counseling Psychology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2024, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Statistics. She is proud to have been involved in TRIO Student Support Services (#TRIOWORKS) and the Ronald E. McNair Program at Iowa State. She has worked on several projects in the Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies Departments during her time as an undergraduate student.   

Jimena's research interests focus on mitigating mental health disparities among immigrants, monolingual Spanish speakers, and the Latine community. She is passionate about using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to develop culturally responsive programs for historically underserved populations. Jimena plans to use her educational privilege to support the mental health of students and underrepresented communities through therapy, intervention, and prevention programs. Social justice and advocating for underserved individuals are central to her career goals, as she strives to better support people from all backgrounds.  

Jimena was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, but has lived in Iowa for most of her life. Jimena enjoys reading, hiking, dancing, and going to farmers' markets in her free time. She especially loves playing pickleball and disc golf in the summer.

Roberto Obregon Garcia is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He graduated cum laude from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in History. His research interests focus on how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as trauma, shape the development of psychopathology in individuals from low-income and racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, with particular attention to Latinx communities. He is also interested in examining how peer discrimination contributes to addiction risk among marginalized youth, as well as identifying protective factors that foster resilience across development. Roberto is committed to expanding access to mental health care for underserved communities throughout his graduate training and future career.

Before joining the THRIVE Lab, Roberto worked at the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he led recruitment efforts within the Greater Boston Latinx community and gained experience administering neuropsychological assessments in both English and Spanish. Following this role, he spent two years in Spain working as an English teacher.

Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Roberto grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, photography, skateboarding, and playing basketball.

Anna Best is a junior working towards a major in psychology and a minor in sociology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Anna is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She hopes to further her education in the future with a focus on forensic psychology and criminology, and become a behavioral analyst. She is a part of the university's THRIVE lab which focuses on youth who are at risk for developing mental health issues after exposure to adversity, improving access to mental health services, and understanding mechanisms of resilience after trauma exposure. Anna is also a third-year majorette for the University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Marching Band, as well as a high school majorette line instructor. 

In her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with her friends through movie nights, pickleball, and hikes. She also enjoys dancing and twirling baton, as well as reading.

Bella King is a junior student working towards earning a degree in psychology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In the future, Bella hopes to take her experiences from college to become a youth counselor. She is currently a part of the THRIVE lab at UTK which focuses on youth who are at risk for developing mental health issues after exposure to adversity, improving access to mental health services, and understanding mechanisms of resilience after trauma exposure. Bella is also a current intern at the WYCA where she aids Knoxville youth with the necessary tools to overcome obstacles and to succeed in school. Bella is also an ESI (embedded supplementary instructor) through the UTK biology department and the Vol Study Center where she helps current cellular and molecular biology students learn their content better.

In her free time, Bella enjoys being outside and being active, whether that is hiking, playing volleyball, or going on walks with friends. She also enjoys reading and traveling, as well as spending time with her family and friends. Bella was born and raised in Fayetteville, Tennessee.

Leah Oppel is a second-year student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, pursuing a major in psychology and a minor in child and family studies. Originally from Fort Mill, South Carolina, she plans to further her education with a focus on counseling and school psychology. Leah is passionate about spreading mental health awareness and providing counseling to adolescents in need.

She is actively involved in the THRIVE Lab at UTK, which studies youth at risk for mental health challenges due to adversity, improves access to mental health services, and explores resilience after trauma. Additionally, she is a member of the PsychVOLogy club and the honors psychology program at UTK.

In her free time, Leah enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling to new places, and cheering on the Vols at UTK sporting events!