Staff
Professor Aline Hitti
Aline Hitti (Ph.D.) is the director and supervisor of the SeaRCH lab group. She received her PhD from the University of Maryland College of Education in human development and quantitative methodology. Her research focuses on children's and adolescents' social cognitive and moral development in intergroup contexts. This research includes examining fairness orientations, social exclusion in childhood and adolescence, conceptions of social inequalities, intergroup attitudes, the role of culture and structural inequalities on children's social development and psychological well-being. At USF Aline teaches several courses in the psychology department, including Child Development, Adolescent Development, Psychological Statistics and an Advanced Research Topic course of Social Cognitive and Moral Development.
Janvi Amin
I'm a senior psychology major with neuroscience and health studies minors. I plan on pursuing neuropsychology in graduate school after my time at USF, and have worked with aging adults with dementia and PTSD. I hope to one day make a contribution to research in the development of measurement of neurological disorders, and help dispel the stigma behind seeking aid for mental health crises in minority communities. In my free time I like to explore the city, cook food with my friends, and watch the latest movies.
Jaclyn Krewinkel
I am a senior psychology major hoping to pursue a career in clinical psychology. I have worked with community organizations in order to understand the disparities that exist for individuals and their mental and physical healthcare. I am interested in reducing the mental health stigma within communities as well as eliminating barriers to access by working directly with communities and local organizations. Outside of school, I enjoy being with my pets, exercising, and exploring different spots around San Francisco.
Alieza Chua
I am a sophomore public health major hoping to pursue a career in medicine within the field of pediatrics. An area of research I am particularly interested in is child/adolescent development as well as ACEs. Being a public health major, I am also interested in understanding health barriers and perceptions related to socioeconomic statuses. My goal is to take these psychological concepts and work towards integrating protective factors in healthcare to reduce physical and mental health stigma within the youth.
Devika Kumar
I am a junior psychology major with a minor in chemistry on the pre-med track. After my time at USF, I plan to attend medical school and continue working with children. I am interested in increasing accessibility to mental health resources and promoting various mental health practices for the youth population. In my free time, I like to explore SF, spend time with my family and friends, and bake.
Mot Dhanaprasidhikul
I am a third-year Psychology Student. I plan to pursue a PsyD in clinical Psychology and a career in a clinical setting. I'm interested in helping Asian American communities, specifically children within those communities. When I'm not here in San Francisco for school, I spend my time teaching kids how to swim and how to play traditional Thai instruments. I enjoy participating in club sports, cooking, and traveling in my free time.
Ajene Mohr
I am a Psychology major at the University of San Francisco. I hope to become a child psychologist to aid kids in underprivileged neighborhoods to not only get rid of the stigma of mental health, but assist them with any traumas and be the person that I needed when I was younger. I would love to have my own practice, and potentially become a social worker as well. I have spent a lot of time working with the youth. In my free time I enjoy playing basketball and going to the gym.
Previous Research Assistants
Raychel Hatch
I am a senior double major in Psychology and Performing Arts & Social Justice. I'm interested in community building, youth development, and increasing accessibility to both clinical and community-based mental health treatments. In the future, I hope to pursue a graduate degree to promote healing for youth. In my free time, I enjoy staying connected to my body through choreographing and performing dance.
Jordyn Chapman
I am a senior Psychology major with a minor in Criminal Justice Studies. I am hoping to get my PsyD in Clinical Psychology and pursue a career as a Forensic Psychologist. An area of research I am interested in pursuing in my career is foster care and Justice-involved youth. In my free time, I like to read, dance, make art, and travel.
Jason Hou
I am a Senior Psychology student with a minor in Child Youth studies. I am interested in getting a MSW or a PsyD and pursuing a career in a clinical setting. I hope to make an impact among Asian American populations in promoting mental health and desensitizing mental health practices like therapy.
Madeline Price
Maddie is the research coordinator for the SeaRCH laboratory and is a senior at the University of San Francisco majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish. They are interested in child development, abnormal psychology, and cross-cultural psychology. After graduating, Maddie plans to go to graduate school for mental health counseling. In their free time, she enjoys reading, baking, yoga, and hiking.
Alyssa Edmison
I am a senior psychology major with a neuroscience minor. I am interested in cognitive psychology and the psychology of prejudice. I hope to explore the neuroscience behind prejudice and stereotyping. After I graduate, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in psychology and conduct research. In my free time, I enjoy attending concerts, roller skating, and creating art.
Emily Flores
My name is Emily Flores. I am a third-year psychology major with minors in neuroscience and criminal justice. I hope to one day become a child psychologist so that I can contribute to helping children develop healthier mindsets and attitudes. Most of the time, you can find me doing schoolwork, research activities, or tutoring for the Engage SF program. During my free time, I am either hanging out with my rabbit (Cow), boxing, doing tarot, out in nature, or curating playlists for my friends.
Sabrina Ortiz
Sabrina is the research coordinator for the lab and is currently a senior at the University of San Francisco majoring in Psychology. She is interested in childhood development and the way a child’s cultural background can affect their psychosocial adjustment. She is currently working on her senior thesis, examining occupational status based on gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in different age groups. After she graduates, she will attend graduate school to study Clinical Psychology. She is interesting in working with underserved communities in community mental health settings. Sabrina is also currently a relief counselor at Progress Foundation, an agency that provides community-based behavioral health services in a residential treatment setting, and she volunteers with the LGBT National Help Center as a peer-support hotline counselor.
Kealoha James
Kealoha, or Kea, is currently a junior at the University of San Francisco. She is a psychology major and is considering a Philosophy minor. She is most interested in social psychology and how it relates to philosophical ideas regarding how people interact with each other and their environments when put in certain situations. When Kea achieves her BA, she plans on pursuing graduate school to study social psychology so she can become a researcher in the future. In her free time, she creates art and plays video games.
Chloe Bryan
I am a senior psychology major and neuroscience minor. I have a deep fascination on why people make the decisions they do regarding crime. Forensic psychology and neuroscience are super important to me and, thus, I seek to bridge the gap between these domains with the legal system. I think it is super important to understand what's going on in the brain when making life altering decisions about people's lives. Outside of my interest in crime, I love to surf, roller skate, and camp!
Augustine Provencio
Augustine is currently finishing his first year as a clinical psychology doctoral student at USF. He received his BS degree in biopsychology from UC Santa Barbara and his MA in education from the University of the Pacific. Leading up to his time at USF, he worked as a fifth-grade teacher here in San Francisco for three years. Although Augustine wanted to join a psychology program for a long time, he narrowed in on his interests while working as an educator. It was apparent that there were discrepancies regarding the availability of mental health resources within underprivileged schools and communities. It is for this reason that he is interested in working with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma in underserved communities.
Annabelle Li
My name is Annabelle, and I'm a senior at San Mateo High School. My favorite subject in school is biology, and I'm interested in majoring in either neuroscience, psychology, or biology in college. In my free time, I enjoy playing piano and trumpet, listening to classical music and podcasts, reading, and going for walks.
Ava Abrishamchian
Hello! My name is Ava Abrishamchian, and I am currently a senior at Holy Names High School in Oakland, California. The broader subject of psychology is incredibly interesting, and as a research assistant at the seaRCH Lab, I was able to gain more knowledge in it. I am captivated by the more specific topics of psychology, such as social and cognitive psychology. Similarly, I am interested in children’s social and cognitive development, and theory of mind. In school, I am on varsity basketball and swim, and I am the member of multiple leadership teams, as well as President of the student body. The seaRCH Lab at the University of San Francisco was an amazing opportunity to delve deeper into the subject of social and cognitive psychology and social status, and I hope to major in psychology in college
Madison Badua
Madison is from Honolulu, Hawai'i. She is a senior Psychology major and Child & Youth Studies minor. She is interested in child development, family dynamics, and how cultural aspects tie into these different areas. After getting her Bachelor's degree from USF, she hopes to go to graduate school to become a child life specialist. Outside of school, Madison likes to dance, hang out with friends, and go out to explore all the good restaurants in the city.
Wesley Warren
Wesley is a junior at the University of San Francisco, majoring in psychology and minoring in neuroscience and health studies. After receiving a Bachelor's degree, he plans on going to graduate school in order to pursue a career in clinical psychology. He is interested in cognitive, social, and developmental psychology. In his free time, Wesley likes to listen to music, skateboard, shoot film, and explore San Francisco.
Chy'enne Verrett
Chy'enne is currently a senior undergraduate student working towards her BA in Psychology with a minor in African American studies at the University of San Francisco. After she graduates, she plans to continue her education and a pursue a career obtaining her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is particularly interested in focusing on underrepresented and underserved populations in impoverished communities. Her goal is to make sure these communities are being treated fairly within the medical field. She even has thoughts of one day going back to school and pursuing psychiatry to further her education. In her free time, Chy'enne is both a Psychology peer tutor at USF and a tutor at University Ministries for middle schools in the Mission District. She likes to cook, watch movies, listen to music, and travel.
Alizée Jean Jacques
Alizée is a senior undergraduate student at the University of San Francisco, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Environmental Science. She plans on taking the LSAT in the fall, on track to getting her JD in environmental law. She hopes to combine her interests in social psychology and the environment by eradicating environmental racism through law and policy. In her free time, Alizée enjoys the outdoors, crime podcasts, and watercoloring.
Adriana Alvarez
Adriana is currently a Junior at the University of San Francisco. She is pursuing a major in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She is interested in social and cognitive psychology, particularly within children. Along with being a student, she also works as a behavior therapist for children with autism. In her free time, Adriana enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and cooking.
Angelica Bueno
Angelica is currently a junior at the University of San Francisco. She is a psychology major with a double minor in health studies and child and youth studies. Angelica is interested studying the clinical consequences of child maltreatment, as well as possible treatments and therapies. She loves trying new restaurants, going to concerts, and spending time with family and friends. After graduating from USF, Angelica plans to attend graduate school to further her goal of becoming a professional counselor or therapist.
Dakota Corrales
Dakota is a graduate of University of San Francisco with her bachelor's in Psychology. She is interested in the effects of perceived prejudice and social standing on childhood development. She is particularly interested in the role of prejudice and social standing in regard to the legal system. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology with a focus on forensic psychology or go to law school. In her free time, she likes to play guitar, take hikes, and spend time with family and friends.
Valentin Gulyas
Valentin is from Stockholm, Sweden. He is receiving his bachelor's in psychology from University of San Francisco in December of 2017. He is particularly interested in children’s moral development. Valentin is also interested in the influence of parents and parenting practices on children’s development. He is interested in pursuing a PhD in Developmental Psychology. Valentin is trilingual, speaking Swedish, Hungarian and English. In his free time, he likes to play basketball, piano, and cook.
Emmelyn Hernandez
Emmelyn is a senior studying psychology with a minor in English and will graduate in May of 2018 at the University of San Francisco with a BA. She is interested in Clinical psychology and social work, particularly working with clients from a low socioeconomic background and increasing awareness of the importance of mental health. She is interested in attending graduate school for either a MWS or MFT and becoming licensed to practice therapy, in hopes of opening a private practice one day. In her free time, Emmelyn enjoys writing, drawing, playing guitar, and playing video games.
Jacquelyn Glidden
Jacquelyn received her bachelor's in neuroscience from Bucknell University and her master's in developmental psychology from San Francisco State. She is interested in socio-emotional development from infancy through childhood. She loves working with the children and families that participate in the lab studies. Outside of the lab, Jacquelyn is a lecturer at San Francisco State and teaches writing skills at a local elementary school. She hopes to one day get her PhD in developmental psychology and become a professor.
Daisy Payton
Daisy is currently a junior at the University of San Francisco, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience. She is interested in forensic psychology, social justice, and the prison system. She is particularly driven to working with juvenile inmates and inmates from low socioeconomic backgrounds. After she graduates, she hopes to pursue a master’s in forensic psychology, a PsyD in Clinical psychology, and to attend law school. Daisy is an avid cook and spends all her free time with her dog, Totty.
Eleanor Sammons
Eleanor is currently a senior at the University of San Francisco, graduating with her BA in the spring of 2018. She’s a psychology major who has earned her AA in Psychology at City College of San Francisco. Eleanor has a special interest in pediatric behavioral health, specifically working with youth from underserved populations. She will attend graduate school in the fall of 2018, allowing her to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist focused on integrated mental health care for children and families in primary care, and coping with chronic illness and trauma in hospital settings. Beyond psychology, Eleanor’s interests include music, photography, travel and spending time with her family.
Janel Cuevas
Janel is currently a junior at the University of San Francisco, with a psychology major and neuroscience minor. She is interested in child development and cognitive psychology, specifically focusing on how the two fields of psychology integrate with one another. Once Janel achieves her BA, she plans on pursing graduate school with a focus in either neuroscience or cognitive psychology. In her free time, Janel teaches indoor cycle classes on campus and plays club rugby for the university
Santiago Gonzalez
Santiago is from Lindsay, CA, and is a senior majoring in Psychology at the University of San Francisco. He is in the Dual Degree in Teacher Preparation program at the School of Education, earning his B.A. degree in Psychology, M.A. degree in Teaching, and single-subject teaching credential at the same time. Santiago is interested in working in education, specifically in School Psychology. He plans to pursue a Ph.D in School Psychology and conduct research in Child Development or in Learning & Memory. Outside of academics, Santiago enjoys going on motorcycle road trips with his friends and exploring nature.
Makeda Mayes
Makeda Mayes is a Senior student of Psychology at the University of San Francisco. She is primarily interested in family structures and the development of relationships and values throughout individual’s lives. She is currently in the midst of conducting her Senior Thesis centered on sibling relationship and support systems within the family. As for the future, she hopes to work as a research assistant before ultimately getting her PhD in either Child Development or Clinical Psychology. Outside of the lab, Makeda enjoys singing at karaoke, watching K-dramas, and taking long bus rides.
Ariel Kasoff
Ariel is a junior studying to receive a BA in Psychology, and a double minor in Philosophy and Biochemistry at the University of San Francisco. She is currently on the pre-med track and has a strong interest in a holistic approach to health, combining both physiological and cognitive aspects. Through research, she hopes to unveil the complexity of the human psyche by understanding human behavior and the individuals reasoning behind it.
Lily Samiee
Lily is graduating in May 2019 with her BA in psychology at the University of San Francisco. She is interested in various aspects of child development, family dynamics, and clinical psychology. More specifically, Lily is interested in family dynamics, and one's social environment, and their effect on the etiology of mental disorders. Currently she's working on her Senior Honors Thesis, examining the role of cultural orientation on mental health stigma. She plans get her PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of Psychology, Lily enjoys hiking, reading, movies, and museums.
Annabelle Farina
Annabelle is currently a third-year undergraduate student pursuing her BA in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience, at the University of San Francisco. She plans to continue her schooling and pursue a career in the medical field after graduating. Annabelle is particularly interested in behavioral health in children, as well as various aspects of child development and child maltreatment. When she is not working or studying you will probably find her with friends adventuring the city, hiking, cooking, or practicing photography.