Team Members

LeNisha is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Developmental Psychology at UC Riverside. She earned her B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis in Applied Developmental Science from California State University, Northridge. Her research explores how educational environments shape individuals’ ethnic-racial identity development and academic outcomes. During her free time, she enjoys discovering new music, painting, and spending time with family and friends.

Chelsea is fourth-year doctoral student working in the YHD lab with a strong desire to continue to serve the public good in academia and at a community level after program completion. She is ultimately passioned around empowering Black and Latinx youth to be able to thrive in their own communities. Broadly, her research interest is around exploring factors that prevent youth from being able to thrive in overlooked and under-resourced communities. Fun fact: I love to watch Tik Tok videos and traveling.

Megan is a first-year PhD student in Developmental Psychology at UC Riverside. She earned her master’s degree in Human Development and Education at Harvard University and is especially interested in how family connections can support youth of color, helping them to navigate challenges like discrimination while building strong and positive identities. Megan loves wandering and discovering new places, listening to music, dancing, and finding new outlets for her creativity.

My name is Kayla and I am a 4th year African American Studies major. I am interested in the identity development of black youth. In the future, I hope to contribute to the field of research involving Black studies and overarching themes of black psychological development.

My name is Amber and I am a 4th year psychology major. I am interested in studying neurodevelopmental disorders in diverse populations, primarily Black and Native American women. In the future, I hope to gain a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus in development. Through research, I hope to promote understanding, equity, and create more resources for populations that are often underrepresented in research.

My name is Sagey Moorjani, and I am a third year psychology major. I am interested in understanding the brain and human behavior. In the future, I plan to get my PsyD. in clinical psychology and pursue research in the mental health field. In my free time, I enjoy thrifting, trying new cafes, and spending time with friends and family.

Hello! My name is Michelle and I’m a third year Psychology B.S. student and I’m very excited to be apart of this lab. My research interests include studying the impact of students’ cultural backgrounds on their personality/perception of their mental health. A fun fact about me is that I have two pet rabbits.

My name is Stela, and I’m a psychology major. In the future, I plan to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist. My interests include reading, video games, and D&D.

My name is Angel Emele, and I am a fourth-year psychology major. My research interests center on mental health among immigrants and minority youth. In the future, I hope to pursue a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy with a focus on family dynamics within minority groups. In my free time, I enjoy spending time in nature with loved ones and engaging in in-depth conversations about our passions.

My name is Halie Allen and I am a post-baccalaureate researcher (UCR alum). I majored in Anthropology with a concentration in Black & Black Diaspora Studies and a minor in Psychology. In the future, I hope to become a therapist who works mainly with children, especially those of color. I plan to pursue higher education and earn a PsyD.

Elsie Awuah is a post-baccalaureate researcher (UCR alum), who earned her B.S. in Psychology in Spring of 2024. She gained her love in developmental psychology as she has worked with children for the past year and is fascinated by their perspective of life. Post-graduation, she is hoping to be on the path of obtaining her PhD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on development.