Current Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistants
Nicole Calzada
Nicole Calzada, a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice, has research interests in the impact of mental health access on crime reduction, the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in criminal behavior and recidivism, and the relationship between early childhood trauma, brain development, and criminal behavior. She plans to pursue a master's degree in clinical psychology and aims to secure funding for independent research projects in the future.
Daphne Gabaldon
Daphne Gabaldon is majoring in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. She is very excited to be part of the SDS project. Her research interests are in correctional and clinical psychology and she is looking forward to gaining experience in the field to help prepare for her future endeavors.
Carolina Garcia (social media manager)
Carolina Garcia is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She joined the lab in summer 2024. After graduation she plans on pursuing a graduate degree in Behavioral Analysis as well as a BCABA certification afterwards. Her research interests include mental health awareness, the impact of mental health on crime and justice-involved individuals, the use of psychology within politics and the criminal justice system, and strategies for reducing recidivism and stigma.
Andrea Hernandez
Andrea Hernandez is a research assistant, working on her Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Neuroscience. She plans on attending medical school after her bachelor’s to pursue a career in Pediatric Neuropsychology. Her interests include mental health in and outside of the criminal justice system, hoping to bring awareness to mental health and how biological, socio-economic, and environmental factors all play a role in cognitive development.
Alani Lopez
Alani Lopez is a post-baccalaureate alum with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Biomedical Concentration. Her research interests include the intersection of psychiatric disorders and the criminal justice system, as well as reducing barriers to culturally competent mental health care in Latino communities. She is particularly interested in how stigma and cultural values influence access to care and rehabilitation outcomes for justice-involved individuals, an area she hopes to further explore through potential specialization in forensic psychiatry. She plans to pursue either a Master of Public Health or medical school, with the goal of addressing disparities in mental health care within underserved populations.
Anel Ortiz
Anel Ortiz is a Psychology major with a minor in Criminal Justice. Her research interest include justice involved individuals with mental illnesses, with a focus on exploring approaches that support rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
Camila Thome
Camila Thome is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She joined the lab in summer 2025. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a graduate degree in either Forensic Psychology or Addiction Studies. Her research interests are barriers to accessing treatment, disconnected outreach models in mental health, racialized and status-based criminalization, gendered and intersectional service gaps in the criminal justice system, and the cumulative disadvantage across institutional touchpoints.