Student and Campus Representatives

Tracia Banuelos is a senior at Wichita State University (WSU) double majoring in psychology and women’s studies, with a minor honors focusing on social activism and pursuing certificates in Tilford Diversity Studies and community psychology. In the community, she currently serves on the Young Women of Color for Reproductive Justice Leadership Council, as a Yonge People For (YP4) Fellow and on the It’s On Us Student Advisory Committee to fight sexual assault on college campuses. On campus, she serves as the Title IX Student Alliance co-chair, is a McNair Scholar, a member of Student Ambassador Society, a peer mentor and member of Feminists on Campus (FOCUS). Previously, she has served as the Diversity Task Force chair and Honors College senator in Student Government Association, where she helped assemble task forces for African-American students’ recruitment and retention, advocating for a campus wide pronoun policy, expanding diversity in academics and most recently playing a vital role in helping WSU become a sanctuary campus, standing by DACA and undocumented students, among other initiatives. In her spare time, she works at the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas as a prevention facilitator, volunteers at the Wichita Family Crisis Center and enjoys spending time with her fiancé and friends. Upon graduation, she aspires to obtain her PhD in community psychology and focus on research in youth development, equity for women of color and advocacy. Banuelos is dedicated to social justice, access to resources and opportunity for underprivileged and underserved populations and elevating the standard and quality of education for these groups.

Bolland-Hillesheim is originally from the beautiful state of Minnesota, where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of St. Benedict with a minor in Hispanic studies. She is now pursuing her PhD as a third-year student in counseling psychology from New Mexico State University (NMSU) with a minor in integrative behavioral health. For her qualifying project, Bolland-Hillesheim investigated perceptions of therapist attitudes towards perpetrators of sexual assault when working with survivors of sexual assault. Her dissertation will explore the experiences of trans individuals engaged in sex work. Bolland-Hillesheim has co-authored two studies on trans romantic partner relationships and is currently helping with a project on sexual self-concept among trans individuals. As her favorite part of graduate school so far, Bolland-Hillesheim created and taught the course “Transgender Issues in Counseling” through the Preparing Future Faculty program at NMSU. Furthermore, she has co-facilitated support groups for trans individuals, co-facilitated a group for male perpetrators of domestic violence and volunteered with a sexual assault services center and domestic violence shelter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking and singing loudly within the comfort of her own home.

Maggie is a second-year doctoral student in counseling psychology at the University of Kansas (KU). A native of Indianapolis, she has previously earned a master’s in mental health counseling from Boston College, where she was a member of the first-year social justice lab, working with survivors of domestic abuse, and bachelor’s in both psychology and theater from Purdue University. Her primary research interests are the interactions between psychopathology and gender, with the hope of improving diagnosis and treatment modalities. Her research to date has focused on obsessive compulsive disorder, and she hopes to expand to other disorders, particularly more gender-coded disorders. She is currently engaged in a counseling practicum at KU’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center and dreams of working as a professor of the practice, splitting her time between the classroom and a college counseling center. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with friends. 

Megan Brubaker is in her third year at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. She is studying clinical psychology with an interest in neuropsychology. Originally from Homer, Alaska, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue her BS in psychology at Santa Clara University and her MS in psychology Palo Alto University (formerly known as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology). She is currently working on a qualitative study on women with serious mental illnesses. This work has unveiled several clinical applications on women’s perception on their treatment from family, peers and providers. She hopes to apply these findings in her therapeutic work. In her rare but appreciated free time, Brubaker enjoys being outdoors. She is belay certified and enjoys the personal challenge from rock climbing. She also enjoys running half and full marathons across the country.

Shelby Burton is a third-year PhD student at University of Louisville (U of L) in Louisville, Kentucky. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychological sciences with a minor in criminal justice from Northern Arizona University in 2015. Her research area is in examining the relationship between parenting behavior, parentification and mental health outcomes in children and adolescence. Burton ultimately hopes to start a charity designed to educate the public and decrease stigma regarding mental health as well as provide resources and services for low-income populations. As a 2017-18 Div. 35 student representative, she aims to instill tradition within U of L's program by building on events that she executed last year (We Are Here; Walking for Women) by collaborating with other organizations, with the ultimate goal of executing a social justice project in the community. When she isn't submerged in graduate school activities, Burton enjoys reading inspirational and/or comedic books, exploring the outdoors and spending time with her fellow girl bosses.

Samantha is a third-year undergraduate student at Emmanuel College in Boston. She is originally from Cranston, Rhode Island. She is studying developmental psychology and gender studies. Her goals are to become an advocate and researcher within gender and sexuality. She is most interested in self-objectifcation and body satisfaction in young women. She is a peer mentor for MEDIAGIRLS, a non-profit organization that teaches young women to use the power of media for positive change. As a campus representative, she looks forward to using her voice and events to promote positive thinking and discussion around feminist issues.

Giazú Enciso Domínguez is a postdoctoral researcher at The Graduate Center-City University of New York and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Enciso has a PhD in social psychology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain and an MSc Research in social psychology. She is member of Div. 35 and a  campus representative for 2017-2018. She is also a member of the Mexican Society of Social Psychology (SOMEPSO). She belongs to several research groups: Critical Research Fractalities (FIC), Emocriticas, SOMEPSO and Social Studies: Gender Power and Subjectivity. Her current interests deal with affect studies, emotions, gender, discourse and new materialism, among other discussions around methodological and ontological approaches. Her most recent work developed affect and feminism. To contact her, please send an email to her personal or professional address.

LaToya Hampton is entering her second year in the clinical psychology program at the Florida School of Professional Psychology (FSPP) at Argosy University, Tampa, Florida. She graduated with a bachelor of science from the University of Washington in 2012. While at the University of Washington, she volunteered at Devoted Spouses and Christ the King Fellowship Church, helping to create healthy foundations for couples and families. LaToya is beginning her diagnostic practicum with Brittany Zern, PsyD, BCBA-D, at the University of South Florida Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences. Her professional interests include working with children, families, victims of trauma and other diverse populations. She serves as the campus Secretary and Section Leader of Psychologist in Indian Country of Div. 18 (Psychologists in Public Service). LaToya is also a member of the Association of Black Psychologists, Florida Psychological Association and the FSPP Student Psychological Association.

Annika Johnson is a third-year PsyD student at George Fox University. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at Western Oregon University. Annika has been a member of Div. 35 for three years and also belongs to The Society for Menstrual Cycle Research and the National Women’s Health Network. Additionally, she is a leader of an on-campus group dedicated to gender identity and sexuality. Currently she is conducting her dissertation on dysmenorrhea and its impact on young women’s functioning and well-being within the U.S. She is a passionate advocate for women’s health issues and social justice. Previously, she has volunteered as a sexual assault victim’s assistant and has published a literature review on affirmative sexual consent. In her spare time, she enjoys wilderness excursions, playing with dogs and warm cups of tea with beloved company.

Colleen Kase is a second-year student in the counseling psychology doctoral program at the University of Maryland-College Park (UMCP). She earned her BA in psychology and gender, sexuality and women’s studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014. During that time, she did research on the effects of sorority recruitment on college women’s mental health. At UMCP, she joined the Social Identity Research Team with Jon Mohr, PhD. Her research interests are centered around lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer (LGBTQ) mental health, and she is particularly interested in identity development among traditionally understudied gender and sexual minority groups and the use of meditation to reduce internalized stigma. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her fiancée and their dog.

Chandra is a Berkeley, California-based, third-year doctoral student of clinical psychology. Her international involvement in feminist issues has occurred through grassroots initiatives, research and high level policy advocacy. Chandra is passionate about multidisciplinary and globally-relevant approaches to feminism.

Renee is a fourth-year doctoral student in the counseling psychology program at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK). Before coming to UTK, she earned a BA in psychology and biology from Boston University and an MS in psychology from Drexel University in Philadelphia. Her research interests include masculinity, sexual objectification, body image and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) mental health, and she is currently completing her dissertation research on masculinity, readiness for change and substance use. She is currently completing a clinical practicum at a substance abuse treatment center conducting individual, family and group therapy with men with alcohol and drug abuse issues. She is passionate about feminist and social justice issues both inside and outside of the field of psychology. In her free time, Renee enjoys hiking, biking, reading and cooking.

Elizabeth "Beth" Myers is a third-year PsyD student at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. This program aims to prepare highly skilled generalists in professional psychology who are sensitive to the psychological and health-related issues confronting this area and are prepared to serve the communities in this region, which is particularly important to Myers. She completed her undergraduate degree at Emory and Henry College in 2014 and her master's degree at Augusta University in 2016. Her research interests include intimate partner violence, postural aggression and sexual behaviors in college students. Clinically, Myers has a special interest in attachment disorders, trauma and traumatic grief and mindfulness practices in therapy. She also enjoys working alongside caregivers to help develop more effective parent-management strategies and skills to improve the parent-child relationship. Myers has always been interested in advocating for women's issues, but her interest was really sparked after taking a feminist theory course her friend recommended. Myers loves learning about the intersections of psychology and feminism and hopes to someday be able to apply those to her work. Being a part of Div. 35 will provide Myers a better opportunity to speak on behalf of and better women in her community. In her free time, she enjoys taking pictures and being laying around with her lazy cat, Stella.

Aimee M. Poleski is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate. She earned her undergraduate psychology degree with a minor in English from Purdue University-Calumet and went on to earn her MA in clinical mental health counseling from Valparaiso University. She was also recently awarded her MA in clinical psychology. Poleski has a versatile clinical background, having worked with adults with disabilities, child victims of trauma and autistic youth. She is currently providing counseling services to adults and adolescents in a private practice and completing a therapy practicum at a maximum security correctional facility. Poleski is interested in a career in correctional psychology, and she is passionate about social justice issues and incorporates feminist values into both professional and personal activities. She is currently developing a dissertation exploring the relationship between gender ideology and career selection and how these variables contribute to life satisfaction in women. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Poleski enjoys finding creative outlets through working on her home, learning new skills or creative writing.

Kanthi Raja, MSSA, LISW-S, is beginning her first year as student media coordinator for Div. 35. She is currently beginning her third year as a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Fielding Graduate University. She is also pursuing a specialization in parent-infant mental health. Raja received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her master’s degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Raja’s interest in the psychology of women comes primarily from her experiences as an Asian-American female, as well as her 15 years of experience working with minority women and their children. Raja’s work experience as a clinical social worker includes intervention with women, children and families, both as a first responder as well as a therapist working in the home, school and community. Raja is passionate about serving minority women and families as well as individuals residing in high need areas. In addition, Raja has worked as a therapist in the schools, outpatient offices and private practice. One of Raja’s goals in her doctoral education is the pursuit of a greater understanding of attachment issues and how these manifest from pregnancy through the life span.

Valerie Ryan is a fourth year doctoral student in behavioral science at the University of Rhode Island. She received her BA in psychology and history from Suffolk University. Her research interests include feminism, methodologies, health and history of science. She is interested in how social network analysis can be implemented in empirical feminist research generally and in research on sexism and the intersection of gender and class specifically. She is also interested in improving methods for analyzing changes in small networks over time. In her free time, you’ll find her drawing, thinking about exercising and then deciding to watch Netflix or playing with her rabbit, Bill Nye.

Josefina Sierra is a second-year master's student in the counseling psychology program at Texas Woman's University. She received her BS in psychology from Texas Woman's University as well. She is currently completing practicum training at Denton County Friends of the Family, a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter, where she provides counseling services to victims of sexual assault and relationship violence as well as bilingual counseling for Spanish-speaking clients. Additionally, Sierra is passionate about increasing the access to higher education and mental health care services for the Latino/a community, especially for individuals who are undocumented. Her clinical research interests include first-generation college students, Latina women, intimate partner violence and feminist identity development. In the future, she plans to pursue a PhD in counseling psychology and continue to provide mental health care services for the Latino/a population.

Abby Walsh is a lifelong student with multiple degrees the humanities and the social sciences. She graduated from Rider University with a BA in secondary education, social studies and psychology. After completing her BA and teaching high school social studies and psychology, Walsh went on to earn an MA in psychology from New York University, where she fell in love with research, and an MEd in curriculum instruction and children’s literature from Penn State University. She is currently finishing an MA in sociology and data science from Queens College and an MA in American Studies from Columbia University. Her previous research has focused on gender expression and representation, mother-child relationship and learning experiences, diversity and inclusion in the classroom and mindfulness. Walsh is a third-year doctoral student at University of California-Santa Cruz. Her current research focuses on how gender and intersectional representations in children’s media and literature influence children’s gender and ethnic identity development. In addition to her academic pursuits, Walsh has combined her love of research with her spirituality and has complete over 500 hours of training as a registered yoga teacher. You can find her posed in downward-facing dog in front of the TV, enjoying any and all breakfast foods.