Principle Investigator
As someone who grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I am a Yooper. I am also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who did community development and health education work in Cameroon. Together these experiences opened my eyes to social inequality, gave me a passion for psychological research, and inspired a commitment to effect social change. I found a home for these goals and desires in the field of Community Psychology.
I received my PhD in Community Psychology with an emphasis in Developmental Psychology and Quantitative Methods from New York University in 2010. I started as a faculty member in the UIC’s Psychology Department in 2014 and am currently an Associate Professor in the Community and Applied Developmental Psychology program.
My research focuses on two lines of inquiry. The first examines how the neighborhoods that people inhabit can influence individual health and well-being. In this work I have considered how exposure to neighborhood characteristics such as poverty, racial/ethnic composition, crime, and organizational resources (e.g., health care services) can shape the lives of children and adults.
My second area of work explores the ways that sociopolitical beliefs and engagement influence youth development. I am examining how young adults employ Transformative Social and Emotional Competencies (T-SECs) as they make decisions about higher education and employment.
Amanda L. Roy, Ph.D.
Lab Members
Stephanie Ramos
Project Coordinator
I am so thrilled to be apart of the EDH Lab! I received my B.S. in Clinical/Community Psychology with a minor in Latino/a Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a former research assistant, in the Department of Human and Family Development Studies and intern at the Counseling Center, I have a rich experience working with underrepresented groups. My particular interest in research is in community-based interventions and immigration policy. I aspire to make a difference in low-income communities around Chicago and have more accessible mental health services. My hobbies include working out and reading.
I am a doctoral candidate in the community and prevention research program. I have broad and intersecting research interests in the roles of neighborhood dynamics, violence, oppression, and adversity in how they matter for youths' and young adults' psychological and sociopolitical development. I also conduct research on racism and policing. I am developing expertise in conducting Participatory Action Research (PAR) and engage in participatory pedagogy as a teaching assistant for Community Psychology. For fun, I paint and volunteer for community organizing.
Andrea DaViera
Graduate Student Research Assistant
Alysa Miller
Graduate Student Research Assistant
I am a doctoral student in the Community and Prevention Research Psychology program at UIC. I received my BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 2013, and my MPH with a concentration in Community and International Health from New York University in 2016. My previous research explores the impact of food and beverage marketing on adolescent health, particularly in underserved groups and communities, and considers the relevant public health implications. Currently my research interests primarily focus on the influence of environmental and social factors on health decision-making in adolescents and racial/ethnic minority groups. Outside of my research, I enjoy traveling and trying new foods, spending as much time as possible with friends and family, watching college football, and hanging out with dogs at the animal shelter!
I am a doctoral candidate in the Community and Prevention Research Psychology program. My research interests include critical consciousness development and sociopolitical action among youth of color; academic persistance as a form of sociopolitical action; racial discrimination and stress; experiences of students of color in higher education; intersectionality and systemic oppression. In 2015, I graduated from California State University, Los Angeles where I double majored in Psychology and Sociology (concentration in Inequality and Diversity) and minored in Chicana/o Studies. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking (but mostly eating tasty foods) and growing my indoor garden.
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Marbella Uriostegui
Graduate Student Research Assistant
I'm a graduate student in the Community and Prevention Research program. My research focuses on the promotion of social and emotional competence across the lifespan, particularly through the use of dance and other art forms. I'm passionate about using art to empower youth and communities and create social change. In my free time I love dancing, painting, cooking, and crafting.
Teresa Borowski, M.A.
Graduate Student Research Assistant
I am a first-year graduate student in the Community and Prevention Research Psychology program at UIC. Prior to attending graduate school, I completed my B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Multicultural Leadership Studies at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Broadly, my research agenda focuses on promoting well-being amongst Queer, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QBIPOC) and understanding the factors that support well-being within this population. I am currently interested in exploring the ways in which community, culture, and socioeconomic status influence the development of future orientation amongst Latinx youth.
Juan Ramón Sevilla
Graduate Student Research Assistant
Kyla Ford
Graduate Student Research Assistant
I am a doctoral student in the Community and Prevention Research program working with Dr. Amanda L. Roy. My interests include school violence, specifically how violence in the school community can impact youth functioning. Currently, my research is focused on how physical environmental characteristics in school neighborhoods influence measures of youths executive functioning skills. In addition, I am interested in how the impact of environmental characteristics on youth outcomes is buffered by a positive school climate. Outside of the lab, I enjoy camping in my teardrop trailer and travelling to national parks and recreation areas with family and friends.
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